COP28 agrees fossil fuel deal
On 13 December, nearly 200 countries at COP28 agreed to move away from using fossil fuels (coal, oil, and gas) in an important deal. COP28 is a meeting where world leaders have been discussing how to tackle climate change. This year’s conference was held in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
What was the deal?
The deal is about fossil fuels, which harm the environment. When they are burnt to produce energy, they release greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, which trap the Sun’s heat in the Earth’s atmosphere and add to climate change. The deal calls for countries to move away from fossil fuels so that they can reach net zero by 2050. Net zero means cutting greenhouse gas emissions to as close to zero as possible, while introducing ways to soak up the rest – for example, by planting trees. This is the first COP agreement that talks about cutting use of fossil fuels.
How did countries come to the agreement?
At the start of the conference, 106 countries called for fossil fuels to be “phased out”. Phasing out means slowly reducing something until it is stopped completely. Early drafts (versions) of the deal didn’t include this pledge. Countries including Australia, Canada, the US and the European Union (EU), a group of 27 countries that work and trade together, criticised this change. The UK called the draft “disappointing”, and climate minister Graham Stuart left the conference (although he came back later). Representatives from small island nations, who are most at risk from rising sea levels as a result of climate change, said they would not approve this deal. For the deal to pass, all countries needed to agree to it.
A new draft, published on 13 December, said countries will “contribute... to transitioning away from fossil fuels”, instead of phasing them out totally. This version was approved.
How have people reacted?
The leader of the discussions, Sultan Al Jaber from the UAE, said, “We have set the world in the right direction.” The World Wide Fund for Nature, an environmental group, said that the deal was a “sorely needed improvement”, but it didn’t go far enough. Others were also unhappy about the deal’s language, because it does not call for fossil fuels to be stopped completely. Representatives from small island nations said that the deal was made without them being in the room.
What else happened?
On 10 December it was Food, Agriculture and Water Day at COP28, and 33 countries signed up to the Freshwater Challenge. This aims to protect and restore 30% of Earth’s freshwater habitats, like rivers, lakes and wetlands, by 2030.
COP28 also held a day focused on young people, recognising the contributions they make to discussions about the environment. Rachel Ojo, a UK youth delegate at the conference, told the BBC, “It’s essential for me and essential for everyone to be passionate about climate change and protecting our environments.”