News / COP28: A global 'fossil fuel phase out' is watered down to 'well, it could happen'

Photo: © Mohamed Ahmed Soliman | Dreamstime.com

Delegates at COP28 have finally agreed that the world “could transition away” from fossil fuels.

In scenes alarmingly reminiscent of the outcome of the IMO’s MEPC80, the terminology of “a fossil fuel phase out”, and the less objectionable “phase down”, were replaced with “transitioning away”,  and nations “could” take action on greenhouse gas emissions by “reducing both consumption and production of fossil fuels” by 2050.

BBC correspondent Sameer Hashmi suggested even this watered-down language was still ...