COP28: Watch latest statement from climate summit as talks focus on fossil fuel language

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The Conference of the Parties’ 28th (COP28) Session in Dubai is expected to be extended as countries are grid-locked over the language used to decide on the future of fossil fuels and emissions.

December 12 was meant to be the final day of talks with a statement at 11am local time, however, parties are still debating the terms of the final draft and reports suggest the talks could be extended.

COP28 Presidency statement

COP28 Director-General and Ambassador Majid Al Suwaidi read out a statement to the media saying, “We are facing the most demanding COP agenda in history. The COP28 Presidency remains steadfast in calling for the highest possible ambition.

“We are relentlessly committed to helping the Parties agree the best plan they can for the world.”

https://t.co/Ei2FyghDFm

— COP28 UAE (@COP28_UAE) December 12, 2023

He added, “We are trying to agree to a comprehensive plan to close the gaps between where the world is and where it needs to be to keep 1.5 degrees C degrees within reach.”

“Part of this is to include language on fossil fuels in the text. If we can, that would be historic.”

Additionally, you can see his full statement here:

A new draft of the global stocktake, put forward on December 11 addresses the reduction of fossil fuel use in what would be the first such commitment at a global level.

The UAE’s COP28 Presidency described the draft text as a “huge step forward” that reflects its ambitions for the summit.

But several key players, such as the US and European Union, along with other countries are pushing for tougher language, such as a “phase-out” of fossil fuels that had been on the table in an earlier draft.