On Wednesday, President Joe Biden commended the agreement made at the U.N. climate summit in Dubai, known as COP28, for being a significant stride towards achieving climate objectives.

Biden praised the agreement for “making a commitment, for the first time, to shift away from the use of fossil fuels which pose a threat to our planet and our population. The agreement also includes a goal to triple renewable energy worldwide by 2030, among other things.”

The president acknowledged that there is still a significant amount of work to be done in order to achieve the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. According to scientists, surpassing the preindustrial temperature by more than 1.5 degrees (equivalent to 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) could result in irreversible consequences of climate change.

Earlier today, representatives from approximately 200 nations reached a consensus on the agreement after two weeks of talks. The agreement targets the primary sources of greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change, and over 100 countries advocated for more stringent language, specifically calling for a gradual discontinuation of fossil fuels.

The ultimate consensus now involves shifting away from fossil fuels in energy systems in a fair, organized, and fair manner, while also increasing efforts in the crucial decade ahead.

Furthermore, the contract stipulates a threefold increase in renewable energy production by 2050 and expediting the advancement of technologies like carbon capture and storage.

“I would like to address those who objected to including a direct mention of phasing out fossil fuels in the #COP28 document. Whether they approve or not, it is inevitable that we will need to phase out fossil fuels,” stated United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on X. “Let us hope that we act before it’s too late.”

According to the U.N. Environment Program, fossil fuels are currently responsible for providing approximately 80% of the world’s energy, with two-thirds of electrical generation relying on them.

Each country will be responsible for implementing the agreement and adjusting their policies and investments accordingly.

The sources for this report include The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, and Reuters.