Dubai CNN — The world has agreed to a new climate deal at the COP28 summit in a historic move to transition away from fossil fuels. However, the agreement has been met with criticism for its vague language that could allow some countries to take minimal action.
After two weeks of painstaking talks, the Global Stocktake was approved, marking a paradigm shift in the world’s economies. The agreement calls for countries to contribute to global efforts to reduce carbon pollution, but falls short of requiring them to phase out oil, coal, and gas.
While some countries hailed the deal as an end to the fossil fuel era, more ambitious nations and climate advocates expressed disappointment. The agreement was criticized for containing loopholes that could undermine the transition away from fossil fuels. Additionally, concerns were raised about the lack of adequate funding for developing countries to adapt to the impacts of the climate crisis and move towards renewable energy.
The conference in Dubai was marred by controversy and divisions, with oil-producing nations pushing back on language related to phasing out fossil fuels. Despite the challenges, the agreement was ultimately adopted, leading U.S. climate envoy John Kerry to call it a success and a vindication of multilateralism.
While the agreement has been cautiously welcomed by climate experts, serious weaknesses have been pointed out, including the lack of guarantees for adequate financial support for developing countries. The agreement has also been criticized for recognizing a role for “transitional fuels,” interpreted to mean natural gas, and the promotion of unproven carbon capture and storage technology.
Ultimately, while the agreement represents a historic moment in the global effort to combat climate change, it has been met with a mixed response, with some seeing it as a significant step forward and others expressing concerns about its limitations and loopholes.