Big divisions loom over fossil fuels as COP28 talks head into final leg

Negotiators at the COP28 climate conference in Dubai remained far apart on the future role of fossil fuels on Sunday as talks at the Dubai summit entered their final stage.

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The question of whether the world should, for the first time ever, agree on an eventual end to the oil age has been central to the international conference where nearly 200 countries are trying to hash out a solution to climate change.

A coalition of more than 80 countries, including the US, the EU and small island nations were pushing for a deal that includes language to "phase out" oil, gas and coal but were coming up against tough opposition led by the oil producer group Opec and its allies. Opec issued a letter to its members and backers on 6 December asking them to oppose any language targeting fossil fuels in a COP28 deal, and negotiators told Reuters that those delegations appeared to be heeding the call.

"I think there are still quite entrenched positions," said Adam Guibourgé-Czetwertyński, Poland's deputy minister for climate, who is heading the country's COP28 delegation.

"We are nearing the end, in terms of the time allocated for negotiations. But we are not quite there on the final outcome."