Eliminate oil and coal for a greener future COP28 agrees

DECEMBER 14 – Members at COP28 climate summit happening in Dubai have agreed to transition from fossil fuel to greener future by eliminating oil and coal which contribute about 80% of the total emissions. The move saw parties discussing agreeing to transition to greener energy in within in this decade putting a time frame of 7 years. 

However, the calls to use more stronger word like “phasing out” of fossil fuels was purged away by oil producing countries. COP28 President said that there is “no objection it is so decided” that transition of from fossil fuel is inevitable to secure the future. The agreement failed to deliver the “phasing out” of fossil fuel that most vulnerable and those hit the most by climate change wanted to be appended on. 

COP28 president Al Jabber said that to keep global warming below 1.5` is within reach adding that the agreement is a balanced plan to tackles emission and delivering on climate finance to countries that have felt the worst hit due to climate catastrophes.

Jaber: “Stepping up to deliver against against very ambitious goals and objectives and for the first time to deliver on methane and emissions and we have language on fossil fuel in our final agreement for the first time ever.”

He continued, “We have confronted realities and we have set the world in the right direction. We have given it a robust action plan to keep 1.5 (degrees) within reach. It is a plan that is led by the science. It is a balanced plan that tackles emissions, bridges the gap on adaptation, re-imagine global finance and delivers on loss and damage. It is the UAE consensus.”

He further emphasized the need to put take action not to just say and append signatures. “We are what we do not what we say. We make take the steps necessary to turn this agreement into tangible actions. If we unite in action we can have a profoundly positive effect on all our futures,” he reiterated.

While all 198 countries present in COP28 Climate signed up the deal, calling all countries to transition away from fuels, the main driver of climate change. Some climate activists have pointed out to the loopholes in the agreement arguing that the word “transition” is a coded language which give fossil fuel producers a green light to continue producing it.