Fossil Fuels Cited For First Time In Draft Text Of Climate Talks

But some observers say mention likely to be removed in final deal as negotiations continue

- Audrey Tan and David Fogarty

The COP26 climate talks are in the final stretch.

Early on Wednesday, the British hosts of the conference released the first draft of the conference conclusion.

The cover text, which reflects the views of negotiators in Glasgow, gives the first clues as to what a deal might look like.

The draft will now be discussed and debated by delegates from nearly 200 nations and will change as nations press their demands and work to a compromise.

There must be consensus from all nations for any final set of decisions to be adopted.

Any decisions made at COP26 would help implement the Paris Agreement, the world’s main climate treaty, which enshrines temperature targets to limit global warming to well below 2 deg C above pre-industrial levels and to aim for 1.5 deg C, if possible.

Developing nations are unhappy about some aspects of the draft text, including fuzzy language around finance to help them green their economies and adapt to climate impacts.

There is not enough clarity on the amount and source of climate cash or how it will be mobilised. Other elements, though, maybe grounds for some cautious optimism.

For instance, the draft text mentions fossil fuels for the first time in the nearly 30-year history of the