UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated yesterday that the agreement reached at the Dubai Climate Summit (COP28) recognizes, “for the first time”, the need to abandon fossil fuels.
António Guterres added that the agreement was reached “after many years in which the debate on this issue was blocked”.
The COP28 global agreement “clearly” reaffirms the imperative need to limit the increase in global temperature to 1.5ºC, requiring drastic reductions in global greenhouse gas emissions, said Guterres after adopting the document in the summit plenary.
“Science tells us that it is impossible to limit global warming to 1.5ºC without gradually eliminating all fossil fuels within a time frame compatible with this limit. This fact has been recognized by a growing and diverse coalition of countries,” said Guterres.
“I want to say that the exit from fossil fuels is inevitable, whether they like it or not. Let’s hope it doesn’t come too late”, stressed Guterres, adding that “the world cannot afford delays, indecision or half measures”.
The countries gathered at the climate summit approved this Wednesday “by consensus” a decision that calls for a “transition” towards abandoning fossil fuels, announced the president of COP28, in Dubai.
At the opening of the closing plenary session, delegates adopted the decision prepared by the United Arab Emirates, which was applauded.
This is a “historic decision to accelerate climate action”, said Sultan Al Jaber, president of the UN conference.