Canada joins COP28 decision to transition away from fossil fuels

Canada’s environment minister is calling the outcome of the United Nations climate summit “monumental” as the conference closes with a deal struck to begin the transition away from fossil fuels.

It was a historic decision as nearly 200 countries collectively agreed to begin the transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems for the first time.

Minister Steven Guilbeault says that Canada played a leading role in cementing the deal as COP28 closed out in Dubai on Wednesday.

This outcome is monumental.

At #COP28 we’ve reached global consensus to secure a clean energy transition away from fossil fuels. pic.twitter.com/vX2LIoknNL

— Steven Guilbeault (@s_guilbeault) December 13, 2023

The language of the agreement strengthened that of a draft that had been floated earlier in the week, though many have warned that it was undermined by loopholes.

Liz McDowell, the senior campaigns director for the environmental group Stand.earth, says the deal weakens with looming “dangerous distractions”, such as leaving the door open to transitional fuels and by failing to commit wealthy countries to financing the energy transition.

The two-week summit has been the stage for several announcements from the federal government which unveiled its emissions cap for the oil and gas industry, along with draft regulations to drastically reduce methane emissions from the sector.

This report was created with files from The Canadian Press 

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