Germany voices disappointment over draft deal from UN climate change conference

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - Germany’s foreign minister on Monday declared the proposed text from the UN COP28 to fall well short of what is needed to fight the climate crisis.

"The proposed text is clearly insufficient and disappointing. It is far away from what the world needs for a turning point, missing the tools we need to keep 1,5 (Celsius temperature rise) in reach. Key elements are unacceptable, especially on #FossilFuels," Annalena Baerbock wrote on X.

Baerbock went on to say that the need to replace fossil fuels is "completely missing," adding that the current text on fossil fuels "misleads" the world.

Pointing out that the text suggests that fossil fuels can continue to play "an essential role" in the future, Baerbock underlined that this is a "misleading signal" to businesses and markets.

The draft text, released by the COP28 presidency, calls for "reducing both consumption and production of fossil fuels, in a just, orderly and equitable manner, so as to achieve net zero by, before or around 2050, in keeping with the science."

Following its release on early Monday, the text has been criticized over failing to offer strong commitments on phasing out fossil fuels.

Heads of state and government worldwide, as well as civil society and businesses, are gathering in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates at this year's UN climate change conference to accelerate action to tackle the climate crisis.

The meeting is set to end tomorrow.