Nations at climate summit reach final agreement to transition away from fossil fuels with caveats

Dr. Roger Pielke Jr., professor of environmental studies at the University of Colorado at Boulder, noted the agreement doesn't set policy, and debate over its language is an "exercise in semantic accommodation."

By Kevin Killough

Published: December 13, 2023 3:24pm

The United Nations climate conference came to a close with a final agreement from the over 190 participating countries to transition "away from fossil fuels in a just, orderly and equitable manner.”

The agreement also sets a goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050.

Some environmental groups, according to the Wall Street Journal, expressed concern that the deal allowed for loopholes that allow for continued use of fossil fuels through the use of carbon capture and storage, as well as “transitional fuels,” which could mean natural gas.

Drafts of the agreement stirred debate because it lacked any statement about phasing out fossil fuels.

Dr. Roger Pielke Jr., professor of environmental studies at the University of Colorado at Boulder, said on X that the COP28 agreement doesn’t set policy. The negotiations are a matter of coming up with “English language characterizations” concerning a wide range of existing national policies.

“It is an exercise in semantic accommodation, not policy making,” Pielke said.