Not ambitious enough: COP 28 climate deal is significant, but it also signals a reluctance to end fossil-fuel use with needed haste

The outcome of the 28th Conference of Parties (COP28), on Wednesday, is a significant one. The deal calls for “transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy systems, in a just, orderly and equitable manner,” and adds that the shift to clean energy for the global economy should accelerate this decade with the aim of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. This is the first time that a UN climate agreement has called for governments to cut back on fossil fuels. This will surely be of some comfort to the most vulnerable nations.

But the problem is that the final text shows a lack of ambition that is critical to keep the planet on the “well below 2oC warming” pathway.