Nations urged to exit fossil fuels as Turkey touts oil find
Fossil fuels featured prominently at the UN climate summit, as Turkey sought pledges to electrify the global economy instead of curbing their use.
UN chief Antonio Guterres called on nations at the COP31 climate summit to set timelines for phasing out fossil fuels and turn plans into action. Turkey, however, celebrated the discovery of new oil reserves, showcasing their plan to increase the share of electricity from clean sources to 35% by 2035. Scientists warn that emissions from fossil fuels, the main cause of climate change, are set to remain high for another year.
Guterres emphasized that fossil fuels are not only driving the climate crisis, but also pose economic and security risks. The EU's climate envoy Wopke Hoekstra noted that expectations for progress are low, reflecting the reality of the situation. While major economies are skipping the event, Swedish activist Greta Thunberg attended to criticize what she called "greenwashed circuses."
Developing countries, dependent on oil and gas revenue, have resisted calls to accelerate the transition, emphasizing their right to develop and the need for financial support.
Written by urgent.news from Free Malaysia Today's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
