"Countries Most at Risk Call Proposed Climate Agreement a ‘Death Warrant’"

"The working draft made public at the U.N. summit in Dubai would not commit nations to phasing out the fossil fuels that are dangerously heating the planet."

"Environmental groups and negotiators from countries that are most vulnerable to climate disasters assailed a draft of a final agreement, made public at the United Nations climate talks on Monday, that fell short of calling for a phaseout of fossil fuels.

The long-awaited draft said nations “could” take actions to slash greenhouse gas emissions, including “reducing both consumption and production of fossil fuels” by 2050, in line with what the science says must be done to avert the worst consequences of global warming.

But it said nothing about deeply cutting fossil fuel use this decade, which scientists say is required to keep global warming at relatively safe levels. And the use of “could” makes action optional, analysts said.

A spokesperson for Sultan Al Jaber, the Emirati oil executive who is leading the talks in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, said in a statement that the draft was “a huge step forward.” It would be the first time a United Nations climate agreement has even referenced fossil fuels, if those words remain in the final version.

But diplomats who have campaigned for a United Nations commitment to stop burning the fossil fuels that are dangerously heating the planet said their countries would oppose the deal as written. The deadline for an agreement is Tuesday, and the talks are now expected to go into overtime as negotiators haggle over language. Under U.N. rules, all 198 nations must reach consensus on an agreement; any one nation can scuttle a deal."

Lisa Friedman reports for the New York Times December 11, 2023.

"COP28 Heads For Overtime As Countries Wrangle Over Fossil Fuels" (Reuters)

"Fury as UK Climate Change Minister Leaves Conference" (Guardian)

"COP28 Draft Deal Slammed For Dropping Call To Phase Out Fossil Fuels" (Aljazeera)

"‘Verge Of Complete Failure’: Climate Summit Draft Drops The Mention Of Fossil Fuel Phase-Out, Angering Advocates" (CNN)

"New COP28 Draft Deal Stops Short Of Fossil Fuel 'Phase Out'" (Reuters)

"'Small Minority' Of Nations Blocking Progress On Fossil Fuels At COP28, Says At-Risk Vanuatu" (AFP)

"Critics Pan Draft Text At UN Climate Talks As Watered Down As COP28 Nears Its Finale In Dubai" (AP)

"New COP28 Draft Text Does Not Mention Phase Out Of Fossil Fuels" (Reuters)

"Cop 28: Australia, US and UK Say They Won’t Sign Agreement That Would Be ‘Death Certificate’ For Small Islands" (Guardian)

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