COP28 Nations Agree for First Time to Transition Away From Fossil Fuels
Conference host, the United Arab Emirates, brokered the compromise that calls for a clean energy shift to accelerate this decade
By Matthew Dalton, Stacy Meichtry and Sha Hua, Updated Dec. 13, 2023 2:34 am ET
COP28 President Sultan Al Jaber proposed the compromise agreement after consulting with delegates across the U.N. climate conference. PHOTO: KAMRAN JEBREILI/ASSOCIATED PRESS
DUBAI—More than 190 governments at the United Nations climate conference approved an agreement Wednesday calling for the world to transition away from fossil fuels, an accord that bridged differences between big energy-producing nations and countries that want to completely phase out coal, oil and natural gas.
The deal, the result of all-night talks, calls for “transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy systems, in a just, orderly and equitable manner.” It says the shift to clean energy for the global economy should accelerate this decade with the aim of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Scientists say that is crucial to fulfilling the Paris accord, the landmark climate agreement that calls for governments to attempt to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial temperatures.
The deal marks the first time a U.N. climate agreement has called for governments to cut back on all fossil fuels. Scientists have long said it, but big fossil-fuel producers led by Saudi Arabia and fast-growing developing nations such as China and India have rebuffed pressure to call for burning less.
“We should be proud of our historic achievement,” said Sultan Al Jaber, the chief executive of the U.A.E.’s national oil company who is running COP28. “We have delivered a robust action plan to keep 1.5 within reach.”
Write to Matthew Dalton at Matthew.Dalton@wsj.com, Stacy Meichtry at Stacy.Meichtry@wsj.com and Sha Hua at sha.hua@wsj.com.
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