Proposed COP28 climate deal calls for 'transitioning away from fossil fuels'

According to Reuters, the draft of a final climate deal was released by the COP28 Presidency on Wednesday with the intention of pushing nations towards transitioning away from fossil fuels to mitigate the severe impacts of climate change.

The proposed text aims to represent the collective viewpoint of almost 200 countries gathered at the conference in Dubai. Many governments have been advocating for strong language signaling the eventual end of the fossil fuel era, despite pushback from members of the oil producer group OPEC and its allies.

In an effort to conclude two weeks of challenging negotiations, country representatives have been summoned to a final meeting on Wednesday morning, where the deal could potentially be approved.

It is important to note that any agreements made at U.N. climate summits must be reached through consensus, after which individual countries take responsibility for fulfilling the agreements through their national policies and investments.

The draft deal specifically calls for a transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems in a fair, organized, and equitable manner, aiming to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 in accordance with scientific findings.

If the deal is adopted, it would mark the first time in the three decades of COP climate summits that nations have agreed on a concerted effort to move away from oil, gas, and coal, which currently make up approximately 80% of global energy sources.

It is worth noting that scientists have identified fossil fuels as the largest contributor to the greenhouse gas emissions that drive climate change.

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(Reporting by Valerie Volcovici, Kate Abnett, Jake Spring, Gloria Dickie, Elizabeth Piper, David Stanway; Editing by Richard Valdmanis and Katy Daigle)