[ti:At COP28, Nations Agree to Move away from Fossil Fuels]
[al:Science & Technology]
[ar:VOA]
[dt:2023-12-14]
[by:www.voase.cn]
[00:00.00]Nearly 200 countries agreed on Wednesday to move away from using planet-warming fossil fuels.
[00:11.98]The deal came after two weeks of intense negotiations at the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP28.
[00:28.94]World leaders gathered in Dubai for the meeting.
[00:33.96]The agreement was meant to send a powerful message that the world is united in its desire to break with fossil fuels.
[00:45.51]Scientists say the agreement is the last best hope to prevent climate catastrophe.
[00:53.99]But nations have not always followed climate agreements made in the past.
[01:00.92]COP28 President Sultan al-Jaber called the deal "historic."
[01:08.44]He added that its true success would be in taking action. 
[01:14.55]"We are what we do, not what we say," he said. 
[01:20.11]"We must take the steps necessary to turn this agreement into... actions."
[01:26.54]Norway's Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide said, "It is the first time that the world unites around such a clear text on the need to transition away from fossil fuels."
[01:44.75]More than 100 countries had pushed for strong language in the COP28 agreement to "phase out" oil, gas, and coal use. 
[01:58.52]However, they faced powerful opposition from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). 
[02:08.24]The organization controls nearly 80 percent of the world's proven oil reserves as well as about one-third of worldwide oil output. 
[02:22.04]The group, led by Saudi Arabia, said the world can cut emissions without rejecting specific fuels.
[02:32.22]That dispute had some observers worried that an agreement would not come together.
[02:40.03]The lead negotiator for the Alliance of Small Island States, Anne Rasmussen, criticized the deal as not strong enough. 
[02:51.91]But she did not officially object to the agreement. 
[02:57.03]Her speech in Dubai drew a standing applause that lasted nearly two minutes.
[03:05.12]Danish Minister for Climate and Energy Dan Jorgensen noted one reason the deal was impressive. 
[03:14.89]"We're standing here in an oil country, surrounded by oil countries, and we made the decision saying let's move away from oil and gas," he said.
[03:29.08]The deal does not call for "phasing out" fossil fuels. 
[03:35.58]It calls for "transitioning away" from fossil fuels to reach "net zero by 2050 in keeping with the science."
[03:48.56]In some ways, that language describes what is already happening.
[03:53.98]Some governments have enacted policies in recent years to move to a greener economy.
[04:01.83]Europe and the United States have retired some coal-fired power plants. 
[04:09.30]And many countries have policies meant to increase sales of electric vehicles.
[04:18.11]The deal calls on governments to move even faster in several areas. 
[04:25.58]They include increasing renewable energy by three times by 2030, speeding up efforts to reduce coal use, and developing technologies such as carbon capture.
[04:42.95]German climate diplomat Jennifer Morgan said there was not much difference between "phasing out" and "transitioning away."
[04:54.35]She said, "I think the 'phase-out' was about sending a clear signal. And I think the 'just transition away from' is a way of phrasing the phase-out" for poorer nations who cannot act as quickly as richer ones.
[05:14.19]Li Shuo of the Asia Society told the Associated Press that when the two phrases are translated into Mandarin or Japanese, there is almost no difference.
[05:30.76]The Reuters news agency reported that a source familiar with Saudi Arabia's position described the deal as "a menu where every country can follow its own pathway."
[05:46.51]China, the world's biggest carbon polluter today, suggested that industrialized countries should take the lead.
[05:57.26]Zhao Yingmin is Chia's vice environment minister.
[06:02.63]He said after the deal was approved, "Developed countries have...historical responsibilities for climate change."
[06:13.73]I'm Caty Weaver.