Supervisor Elham AbolFateh
Editor in Chief Mohamed Wadie

COP28 Draft Agreement Addresses Reduction of Fossil Fuel Consumption and Production


Tue 12 Dec 2023 | 07:59 PM
By Ahmad El-Assasy

The latest draft agreement from the COP28 conference underscores the necessity of reducing the consumption and production of fossil fuels while emphasizing a fair and orderly transition toward carbon neutrality by 2050. 

Published by the UAE presidency of the conference, the draft avoids explicit terms like "giving up on oil," "gas," or "coal," recognizing the sensitivity of these issues during negotiations in Dubai.

Specifically addressing coal, the text calls for a rapid phase-out of coal use without carbon capture technology. 

Additionally, the draft sets ambitious targets, including tripling global renewable energy capacity and doubling energy efficiency improvements by 2030.

The UAE views these decisions as a significant advancement, aligning with its stated ambitions since the conference's commencement. 

The draft positions the matter in the hands of all participating parties, underscoring the shared responsibility for the planet and its inhabitants.

Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and President of the COP28, emphasized global cooperation to limit global warming. 

He stressed the importance of achieving an outcome that aligns with scientific recommendations and keeps the target of limiting temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius within reach. 

Al Jaber called for a cooperative mindset among conference participants to address the urgent climate challenges facing the world.