13 December 2023 (Lloyd's List) - THE COP28 climate talks in Dubai ended with an agreement to transition away from fossil fuels, while countries also agreed to accelerate the use of technologies such as carbon capture in hard-to-abate industries. 

This was the first time the final COP28 text made a reference to a transition from fossil fuels, though some countries had lobbied for stronger language to phase out fossil fuels.

“While we didn’t turn the page on the fossil fuel era in Dubai, this outcome is the beginning of the end,” said UN climate change executive secretary Simon Stiell.

“Now all governments and businesses need to turn these pledges into real-economy outcomes, without delay.”

The agreement also calls on parties to accelerate zero- and low-emission technologies including renewables, nuclear and carbon capture and storage, particularly in hard-to-abate sectors as well as accelerating low-carbon hydrogen production.

The agreement recognised that transitional fuels — thought to refer to natural gas — play a role in helping the energy transition while ensuring energy security. It called on parties to accelerate efforts towards the phase-down of unabated coal power, according to the final text.

“We have given it a robust action plan to keep 1.5 within reach. It is a plan that is led by the science. It is a balanced plan that tackles emissions, bridges the gap on adaptation, reimagines global finance, and delivers on loss and damage,” said Sultan Al-Jaber, COP28 president and chief executive of oil giant Adnoc.

Vessels of 5,000 gt and above consumed 213m tonnes of fossil fuels in 2022, up from 212m tonnes in 2021, according to data from the International Maritime Organization.