Nations strike historic COP28 deal on fossil fuels

The deal was nearly three decades in the making, and it challenges nations that run on oil, gas and coal revenue to make the switch to cleaner energy.

Critics said it does not go far enough, but for a moment the world in 2023 – ridden by conflict and division – agreed on something.

Sultan Al Jaber, Cop28 President, brought the gavel down on what he said was a “historic” deal just minutes into a plenary session.

The agreement calls for “transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy systems, in a just, orderly and equitable manner … so as to achieve net zero by 2050 in keeping with the science”.

The agreement, informally called the “UAE Consensus”, was adopted after about a fortnight of hard-fought talks and built on early success that gave the summit initial momentum, such as the launch of the loss and damage fund on November 30, and the galvanizing of more than $80 billion in climate finance.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed said the conference provided “significant results” and vowed to push ahead in search of a “more sustainable future for our planet”.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, also hailed the success of the conference.

“The conference has set new standards in climate action and solidified the UAE's position as a key player in building a sustainable future for the planet,” he said.

Al Jaber said it was a “historic agreement” but was only as good as its “implementation”.

“We are what we do, not what we say,” he said. “We must take the steps necessary to turn this agreement into tangible action.”

The picture had looked different on Monday when a draft deal prompted a backlash from many parties, including the EU and vulnerable small island states, for weak language on fossil fuels, which are the primary driver of climate change.

Intense rounds of talks followed and pushed the summit a full day into overtime on Wednesday before a new draft was issued at about 7am local time. Agencies