COP28 plenary highlights: US climate envoy urges world to stop unabated coal

Nearly 200 countries clinched a deal that called for a “transition away from fossil fuels,” at the COP28 UN climate summit on Wednesday, reported PTI. The words “fossil fuel” became part of the final document of the first Global Stocktake deal, being termed the UAE consensus.

On Wedneday, US climate envoy John Kerry urged the world to stop building new unabated coal in order to meet the objective of transitioning away from fossil fuel.

"The first and easiest thing that countries need to do to make this commitment real is to stop building new unabated coal, and we will continue to fight for that," he told a news conference.

At the closing plenary of the COP28 on Wednesday, India's Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav emphasised the need to achieve the temperature goals set in Paris Agreement.

“The way ahead must be based on equity and climate justice, let us implement the Paris Agreement in letter and spirit through the Global Stocktake process,” said Yadav as quoted by PTI.

On Wednesday, Saudi Arabia's Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said he was in agreement with the COP28 presidency on the final deal and that it wouldn't affect his country's hydrocarbon exports.

"The text, it provides alternatives. But I think these texts do not affect our exports, do not affect our ability to sell," Prince Abdulaziz said as quoted by Reuters.

The official account of COP28 UAE on X(formerly Twitter) has shared pictures of some world leaders who helped in bringing a consensus over solutions to combat climate change.

On Wednesday, US climate envoy John Kerry said that both the United States and China would update their long-term climate strategies, reported Reuters.

"Today, I would join with Xie Zhenhua and the Chinese delegation in announcing that the United States and China ... based on the many initiatives set out in the global stocktake decisions, we will again update our long term strategies and we invite other parties to join us in doing so," he told the closing session of the COP28 summit.

UNFCCC Executive Secretary gave a message to the people of the world and said: “In the crucial coming years, your voices and determination will be more important than ever.”

On Wednesday, the Dutch climate minister praised the COP28 consensus as 'important moment' that keeps the ambition of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius in play, reported AFP.

"For the first time the world is talking about moving away from fossil fuels. More ambition is always better but 1.5 degrees remains in sight," Rob Jetten wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

On Wednesday, after the adoption of the COP28 climate deal, Brazil urged wealthy nations to lead the energy transition and provide developing countries the "necessary means" to follow suit, reported AFP.

"It is crucial that developed countries take the lead in the transition away from fossil fuels," Brazilian Environment Minister Marina Silva told the UN climate summit in Dubai.

"Developed countries have an unshakable, historical responsibility for climate change and therefore must take the lead to embark on the 1.5 degree Celsius pathway ahead of the rest of the world," Chinese vice environment minister Zhao Yingmin told COP28 in Dubai on Wednesday as quoted by AFP.

On Wednesday, Saudi Arabia praised the COP28 consensus which has adopted a call to transition away from fossil fuels but stopped short of a phase-out, reported AFP.

"On behalf of the Arab Group, I express our gratitude to the efforts of all the state parties in order to have a successful first global stocktake," Saudi official Albara Tawfiq told the COP28 conference.

Secretary-General of the UN António Guterres has hailed the COP28 consensus, saying: "COP28 occurred at a decisive moment in the fight against climate change".

Check out the key takeaways from the 28th session of the UN Climate Change Conference of Parties in the UAE.

Wopke Hoekstra, EU Climate Chief said, “When we are long gone, our children and their children will be left to deal with all that we left behind. This is a day of solemn satisfaction. Humanity has done what has been long overdue.”

Raising issues on the climate change consensus, Bolivia said, “There is no differentiation whatsoever on developed and developing countries in these provisions.”

Speaking on the climate action consensus, a representative from Bolivia said, “Imposing 2050 as a timeline for all erodes principles of the Paris Agreement. This is a neo-colonialism called carbon colonialism. Bolivia will support the consensus but we enter registration of our concerns on equity and CBDR in articles 4.7, 9, 10, 11.”

“2015 was when we adopted the Paris Agreement. These 8 years saw developed countries work tirelessly to erode their commitments and transfer their responsibilities to developing countries…We are seeing a worse and more inequitable world. We cannot outcomes without differentiation and concrete financing for developing countries,” said Bolivia.

"The US and China both intend to update our long-term strategies and invite other parties to do so," US special envoy for climate John Kerry said.

“This document sends very strong messages to the world. It says we have to keep 1.5 within reach. It states our next NDCs will be aligned with 1.5 degree C. It reflects science,” US special envoy for climate John Kerry said.

After registering objection on behalf of small islands, Samoa's speech was welcomed with applause. It was agreed that Samoa's objection will be recorded and reflected in reports.

“The draft text has many good elements...the course correction needed has not been secured. It's incremental progress. There is no reference to peaking emissions by 2025. This is not an approach we should be asked to defend," Samoa, on behalf of small islands, said.

“At every stage climate action must strive forward with human development. There will be reams of analysis. This is a lifeline not a finish line. Cop28 needed to signal a hard stop on fossil fuels. This outcome is the beginning of the end,” UNFCCC executive secretary Simon Stiel said.

"The world just adopted a historic decision at COP28 to set in motion an irreversible, accelerated transition away from fossil fuels. With that, we have achieved what we set out to do: keep 1.5 within reach and mark the beginning of the end of fossil fuels," European Commissioner for climate change Wopke Hoekstra said.

“By following our north star we have found that new path. Together we have confronted realities and set the world in the right direction with a robust action plan to keep 1.5 degree in reach…It is a balanced plan,” COP28 president Sultan Al Jaber said.

“It is built on common ground and strengthed by full inclusivity. Make no mistake it's a historic pledge it is the UAE Consensus,” he added.

“I promised I'll roll up my sleeves, we listened to everyone overnight. You showed flexibility and put common interest ahead...let us finish what we have started and now let us deliver,” COP28 president Sultan Al Jaber said. He further added, “Let me say from the bottom of my heart thank you. We have travelled a long road together in a short time. We should be proud of our historic achievement..my country is rightly proud of moving this forward.”