The fortnight-long talks in Dubai have concluded with limited progress, the headline being a deal that for the first time calls on all nations to transition away from fossil fuels to avert the worst effects of climate change.
The agreement did not include an explicit commitment to phase out or even phase down fossil fuels.
Instead, it reached a compromise that called on countries to contribute to global efforts to transition “away from fossil fuels in energy systems in a just, orderly and equitable manner, accelerating action in this critical decade, so as to achieve net zero by 2050 in keeping with the science”.
Limited successes include the launch of the Urban Nature Program to accelerate policy development and investments in nature in urban area. The Program will work with cities, financial institutions and investors to unlock finance for nature-positive development.
The UK government pledged to work to protect global water and food supplies. It will “scale up support for sustainable, climate-resilient farming practices, and improved access to clean water in climate-vulnerable countries”.
There was also the launch of a ‘Water for Hydrogen Production’ report, which sets out the water implications of the global hydrogen industry.
Petrostate Azerbaijan has been chosen to host COP29 next year.
Read The Guardian’s highlights and lowlights so far from COP28
For more detail on what happened in Dubai, follow these links:
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