For the first time, the international community at a UN climate conference has called for a move away from fossil fuels. However, the clear phase-out previously demanded by more than 100 countries does not feature in the final text adopted in Dubai on Wednesday.

Conference President Ahmed Al Jaber rose before the plenary beaming, applauded, and spoke of a "historic package". He described it as a robust action plan to keep the 1.5-degree target within reach — referring to the internationally agreed 2015 goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels. Many experts and NGOs had previously cast doubt on this.

The text from the conference presidency of the United Arab Emirates was published on Wednesday morning and adopted in plenary just a few hours later. The 21-page document calls on countries to transition away from fossil fuels in their energy systems. Oil-producing states such as Saudi Arabia had vehemently opposed any resolution calling for a complete global phase-out of oil, coal, and gas. The conference had originally been scheduled to conclude on Tuesday. However, the draft resolution put forward by the Emirati COP presidency on Monday had been rejected by a large majority, including EU member states, the USA, Brazil, and small island states. According to their statements, around 130 countries in total opposed the vague draft resolution.

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