Historic Agreement Or Old Wine In New Bottle? UN Climate Talks Approve Global Shift From Fossil Fuels Amidst Lingering Criticisms

In a significant development at the UN Climate Talks in the UAE, negotiators have urged a global move away from fossil fuels.

As reported by Indian Express, COP28 President Sultan Al Jaber swiftly approved the central document — a global stocktake assessing climate progress.

While hailed as historic, the agreement falls short of demanding a complete "phase-out" of fossil fuels, opting for a "transition" towards cleaner energy sources in an equitable manner.

Despite the positive tone, concerns persist about perceived loopholes, and notably, the absence of specific language addressing oil.

This move follows intense discussions and revisions after initial dissatisfaction with the conference presidency's document.

The revised global stocktake document, presented by the United Arab Emirates-led presidency, marks the third version in two weeks.

The agreement aims for a net-zero greenhouse gas emissions world by 2050, with global carbon pollution projected to peak by 2025.

However, critics argue that the language does not go far enough to address the urgency of the climate crisis.

The Alliance of Small Island States expressed reservations, considering the text incremental rather than transformational.

Jean Su, the energy justice director the Center for Biological Diversity, acknowledged the historic agreement of fossil fuels but criticised the presence of loopholes allowing the continuation of fossil fuel expansion, including the use of transitional fuels like natural gas that emit carbon pollution.