COP28 draft deal highlights the need for a worldwide shift from fossil fuels

At the UN climate meeting in Dubai, a new draft final accord was released.

It urges nations to gradually reduce their reliance on fossil fuels in their energy systems rather than completely phase them out, as many summit attendees have requested.

The text acknowledges that in order for humanity to keep global warming to 1.5C, significant, swift, and ongoing reductions are required. It’s unclear if this will be enough for the agreement to be approved.

Fossil fuels have been “the elephant in the room,” according to Norway’s environment minister Espen Barth Eide.

No prior conference of the parties, or COP, has seen governments come to a consensus on a coordinated withdrawal from coal, oil, and gas.

For a solution to be reached, all 198 countries must concur; representatives will soon convene to make this decision.

Fossil fuel combustion contributes to global warming and endangers millions of lives. Governments have never decided to cease utilising them as a group thus far.

Just now, the Iraqi delegation informed me. The nation is a part of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec).

Yousif The director of the department of climate change, Muayad Yousif, claims that the revised wording shows “some progress” and that Iraq’s input was taken into account by the COP chair.

However, the nation demands more from the agreement, acknowledging that different nations have unique national circumstances and that some shouldn’t be forced to abandon fossil fuels more fast than others.

Iraq is expected to provide the third most to the world’s oil supply by 2030. Still, it’s an impoverished nation dependent on that revenue.

Additionally, he asserts that greater financial assistance is required for developing nations like his to transition to a green economy.

BBC