There's already a deal to beat dirty fossil fuels

A UNITED NATIONS climate summit has once again failed to strengthen a pledge made two years ago to transition "away from fossil fuels." Instead, these dirty drivers of the climate crisis went completely unacknowledged in the weekend's COP30 agreement. It's disappointing, certainly, but a more ambitious outcome wouldn't have been much better.

- By Lara Williams

Even if delegates had managed to cobble together some commitment to a "fossil-fuel roadmap," it would have amounted to yet another measly promise to begin discussing a transition plan to end our reliance on oil, coal, and gas. At least we've now avoided getting sucked into more slow and tedious negotiations hobbled by the likes of Saudi Arabia.

The COP30 frustration simply strengthens calls to worry less about negotiation and more about delivering what's already agreed. After all, three other pledges made at COP28 in Dubai in 2023 would land quite a punch if honored.

The world is headed for an average global temperature rise of 2.6°C by 2100. This risks triggering major climate tipping points, leading to the collapse of key ocean currents, the loss of coral reefs, and catastrophic sea-level rise, among other nasty prospects. It's less terrifying than the 3.6°C expected about a decade ago, but isn't enough to ensure a safe and healthy future.

In response to this still dismal prospect, nations agreed in 2023 to get back on track via three goals, with a target date of 2030:

Tripling renewable energy capacity globally

Doubling the average annual rate of energy-efficiency improvements

Substantially reducing methane emissions