The 28th United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP28) ended yesterday with an agreement that provides for the gradual end of fossil fuels by 2050. However, despite satisfaction with the agreement, environmentalists still have doubts about the implementation of the measures now approved. The approximately 200 countries represented in Dubai reached an agreement in the early hours yesterday, which for the first time includes in the final text the principle of ending the use of fossil fuels.
The commitment, adopted by consensus in plenary, encourages States to embark on a fossil fuel transition in an orderly and equitable manner, accelerating action in this critical decade, with the aim of achieving the target of net zero emissions by 2050, in accordance with science,” the text reads.
COP28 President Al Jaber called this decision “historic for accelerating climate action” and thanked the hard work of all delegations present at the negotiations.
“We have worked hard to secure a better future for our people and our planet. We should be proud of our historic achievements. My country, the UAE, is proud of the role it has played in moving you forward,” he said.
In a conversation with Agência Lusa, researcher and expert on climate change, Filipe Duarte Santos welcomed the conclusions of COP28, which not only call for an energy transition, but also address the problems from agriculture and food to the consequences of global warming calculate. “Moving from using fossil fuels to using low-carbon forms of energy is a huge step forward,” but “now we need to put this into practice and this will take time. Let’s hope there is an acceleration in this transition process, because it has been too slow,” he told Lusa.
The environmental association Quercus believes that the measures taken are more important than the commitments. “More than declarations of intent, it is the effective measures on the ground that matter,” warns Alexandra Azevedo, president of this entity.
The Student Climate Strike and Climáximo, which have taken several protest actions in recent months, are skeptical about the decision taken. Climáximo even criticizes the lack of binding objectives in the agreement.
At the international level, Russia, one of the world’s largest producers of oil, coal and gas, welcomed the “compromise” nature of the approved deal but called for avoiding a “chaotic exit” from fossil fuels. China said developed countries should “take the lead” in the global energy transition and provide financial and technical support for the transition in developing countries “without delay.”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the agreement and believed that “a crucial part” was only possible thanks to the European Union.
The UN Executive Secretary for Climate, Simon Stiell, welcomed the results of the summit, but warned that commitments urgently need to be effectively met and countries need to present results.
Source: DN
