COP28 - Surprise !! - 200 countries clinch unprecedented deal to transition away from fossil fuels : Al Jazeera / Tom McDermott

A day after COP28 was scheduled to end and following 24 hours of overnight negotiations, the conference ended with a surprise agreement setting out a commitment to "follow climate science to keep global warming below 1.5°C. It also calls for countries to move to net zero by the year 2050.

 It marks the first time fossil fuels are explicitly addressed.

The agreement calls for a "just, orderly, and equitable" move from fossil fuels to net zero emissions by 2050. 

It responds to the plea of over 100 countries to "phase out" fossil fuels.

The deal doesn't use the term "phase out" but states the transition must follow climate science to keep warming below 1.5°C. The language is viewed as important progress.

The approved text more decisively "calls on" all nations to act compared to earlier drafts that outlined options countries "could" take. The final deal came after three versions of the document in two weeks.

The summit faced criticism for fossil fuel ties given the UAE hosts it and the president is an oil CEO. But many still consider the deal a breakthrough, though financing details require further negotiation.

In summary, after contentious talks, COP28 concluded with a historic agreement explicitly pushing fossil fuel transition to curb emissions and warming, despite links between the hosts and oil interests.

See : Al Jazeera - Historic COP28 deal

         Washington Post - Countries Clinch Deal