Georgina Rannard
Climate reporter, at COP28

Another representative of the Pacific islands - who are most vulnerable to climate change - has just spoken. Remember, a delegate from Samoa earlier said the deal was made without them in the room.

John Silk from the fellow Pacific nation the Marshall Islands is critical of the agreement.

"I came from my home in the islands to work with you all to solve the greatest challenge of our generation. I came here to build a canoe together for my country.

"Instead we have built a canoe with a weak and leaky hull, full of holes. Yet, we have to put it into the water because we have no other option," he says.

Silk highlights how climate change is eroding his nation's shores now and that wells are filling with salt water as sea levels rise. But he still says today's deal is progress.

Esme Stallard
Climate reporter, at COP28

Press from all over the world are gathered outside the main meeting room frantically trying to process the text and digest the ministers' speeches, which are still going on.

The speeches for the most part are contained and diplomatic, so as government officials come in and out of the room, journalists are trying to grab them for a more honest response to what has happened here.

Why did the Saudis change their stance?published at 09:50 Greenwich Mean Time 13 December 2023

09:50 GMT 13 December 2023

Sameer Hashmi
Middle East business correspondent, reporting from Dubai

Just a week ago when COP28 was well under way, Saudi Arabia's energy minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman had unequivocally rejected the idea of phasing out fossil fuels.

Throughout the negotiations, Saudi Arabia - backed by other major oil producers Russia and Iraq - pushed back against other countries who wanted a stronger declaration committing to the phase out of fossil fuels.

In the end, the Saudis toned down their opposition - and the final deal includes a pledge for the "transitioning away from fossil fuels".

There are two reasons why the Saudis changed their stance.

First, the language included in the final agreement - "transitioning away" - was acceptable to Riyadh and other major oil producers as it provides them with a fair bit of flexibility on how to achieve the end objective without being tied to any firm commitments.

Second, the Saudi government didn't want to be seen as the main reason for the talks to collapse leading to the declaration falling apart. This would have dented its global image, which it is trying very hard to reinvent.

Some 24 hours ago, the prospect of reaching a deal seemed worryingly remote. Several countries were livid with an earlier draft agreement that ditched strong wording on fossil fuels.

Intense speculation ripped through the conference, with seemingly endless discussion about whether flights home needed to be rescheduled.

Although the timetable did overrun, we heard that the president was absolutely committed to getting a deal by Thursday. Why? Apparently he had a pre-booked holiday.

After the deal was reached, he gave a surprisingly personal speech, in which he said he hadn't seen his family enough over the past year.

And after an absolutely mammoth couple of weeks, with some operating on very little sleep, it seems several hundred people are due for a rest when this is all over.

As we bring you more of reaction to the COP climate deal, here are some pictures of the key moments from this morning:

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Reuters

Image source, EPA

Image source, Reuters

Georgina Rannard
Climate reporter, at COP28

China's up now - a very powerful country here at the negotiations in Dubai. It's the biggest emitter of warming gases (though not per person) and a world leader in renewable energy.

"It is regrettable that the many important concerns of developing countries have not been taken into account," the representative says.

He's referring again to the accusation from developing countries that rich countries are being hypocritical - that they got rich through decades of burning fossil fuels but want to deny emerging economies from having that same growth.

A lack of finance for poorer countries to transition to a green economy has been a big sticking point in these talks. China still negotiates in a bloc of developing countries at these UN climate talks, despite having the world's second largest economy.

Esme Stallard
Climate reporter, at COP28

Today's deal has been hailed as a breakthrough as a pledge on fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas) has been included for the first time - even if some countries are unhappy that the wording wasn't stronger. But we've heard from developing nations like Bolivia and Samoa that there are some things they don't like.

So what do they say is missing?

• Money - the text only "notes the need" for more finance for poorer nations to transfer away from fossil fuels and prepare for climate change. There is no requirement on developed countries to provide more support
• Fairness - that the language on "transitioning away from fossil fuels" does not also ask developed countries to lead on this. They have said it is not fair that all countries are expected to do this at the same time, when developed countries have economically benefited for far longer from using oil, gas and coal
• Methane - there is no goal to reduce methane emissions - methane is one of the most potent of greenhouse gases
• Preparation - and the separate Adaptation text, which outlines how countries will prepare for climate change, is still yet to be passed

There are also elements in the text which they are not happy are present, including this line: "Recognizes that transitional fuels can play a role in facilitating the energy transition".

There is a concern that the "transitional fuels" is referring to natural gas and gives countries a free pass to use it beyond 2050. Natural gas is a fossil fuel and its use produces greenhouse gases which are responsible for climate change.

This is the beginning of the end of the fossil fuel era, UK climate minister Graham Stuart says.

"There are elements here we do not like," he tells the packed room.

This "historic moment" that should inspire action across the globe, he says. "We’re now unified in a common commitment to move away from fossil fuels."

Georgina Rannard
Climate reporter, at COP28

The UK's climate minister Graham Stuart takes the floor.

Just yesterday he left the talks to fly back to London during a parliamentary vote on the Rwanda bill.

Now he's back.

Georgina Rannard
Climate reporter, at COP28

Now Saudi Arabia starts to talk on behalf of the league of Arab groups.

I didn't expect the world's largest oil producing country to make remarks here, especially after reports that they blocked strong language on "phase out fossil fuels" in the talks.

"The principle of common and differentiated responsibilities must be upheld," the Saudi delegate says.

He's talking about parts of the Paris Agreement which acknowledge that some countries did little to cause climate change historically and therefore say they should go slower than rich nations in moving away from coal, oil and gas.

Matt McGrath
Environment correspondent, at COP28

Image source, Reuters

In double quick time, COP28 President Sultan al-Jaber used his hammer to gavel the key agreement through this plenary session, signalling the acceptance by all parties of the deal on offer.

So fast was the gavelling that the small island states group complained they hadn’t had the time to take their seats.

Was this speedy ending a power play by the Sultan, to force through the agreement against the wishes of participants?

Not quite – the president did give very little time for objections, but the majority of countries simply didn’t want to reopen the negotiations on the floor.

Even the most vociferous opponents including Bolivia, were content to make their feelings known in speeches, after the hammer fell.

Outside the main room, we've also been hearing some reaction to the deal.

Denmark's climate minister Dan Jannik Jørgensen says European countries would have liked stronger language and "even more solidarity with the developed world".

"Now it finally seems the world has acknowledged the world needs to move away from fossils," he adds.

Asked about countries like small island nations who are still unhappy with the deal, Jørgensen says the world still has work to do address financing for the countries most impacted by climate change.

New Zealand's climate change minister echoed these thoughts, saying it is not the perfect deal and his country "stands shoulder-to-shoulder" with neighbouring Pacific island nations.

Simon Watts says the deal is "a step forward" and significant work needs to be done on climate financing.

"Is there more work to be done? Absolutely... But the countries that are in the room have a consensus position and that takes us forward."

UN Secretary General António Guterres has just weighed in with a message to "those who opposed a clear reference to phase out of fossil fuels" in the deal. That was a wording that many governments wanted - but it was watered down.

Georgina Rannard
Climate reporter, at COP28

Australia's climate minister Chris Bowen speaks now. He was another minister who strongly called for "fossil fuel phase out" earlier in these talks.

He calls the deal "a strong result" and says the talks in Dubai are an "important milestone," he says.

He echoes the US and small island nations that the deal does not go as far as many would like.

But he celebrates that the agreement includes commitments to increase renewable energy.

A delegate from Samoa said they were "a little confused" by the approval of the deal before the Alliance of Small Island States could join other delegates in the room. The alliance is a group of 39 island nations who are particularly vulnerable to climate change.

"It seems that you just gavelled the decisions when the small island states weren't in the room," she said. After reading a statement listing their objections to the text, the delegate received a standing ovation.

Georgina Rannard
Climate reporter, at COP28

"This is a day of solemn satisfaction," says Wopke Hoekstra, the EU's climate commissioner who's up next to talk.

The European Union have spent the talks calling for strong language on fossil fuels, for a "phase out" - and that language is not in this final deal.

Hoekstra says it's a day to salute the fact that the talks have "finally agreed" to a deal on fossil fuels after 30 years.

"I want you to know that we still stand with you in unity for as long as is necessary," he says to small island states - who earlier said they weren't in the room when it was approved and listed their objections to the text.

Dulcie Lee
Live reporter, at COP28

Speed, speed, speed is the defining theme of COP28 president Sultan al-Jaber in this meeting.

Passing the deal with blistering efficiency earlier - leaving plenty here with their jaws on the floor - he's now asked all the countries making these speeches to keep it brief. Three minutes maximum, he says.

Georgina Rannard
Climate reporter, at COP28

These remarks from countries right now are a chance for the assembled nations to say what they didn't like in the deal.

But remember the agreement has passed - and it can't be changed.

These speeches are a time for nations to put on record their views on climate change while the world is watching.

Georgina Rannard
Climate reporter, at COP28

Bolivia is offering their view now, after being very critical of the first deal offered in these talks, saying it did not address the question of fairness in how quickly countries stop using fossil fuels.

Now the South American country's representative continues to criticise the lack of justice in this deal.

"The past eight years saw developed countries work intensely to erode and erase these principles," he says.

Georgina Rannard
Climate reporter, at COP28

The Bangladesh delegate speaks now. He echoes the sentiment that the deal is a compromise but it is one they can live with.

He says this is the first time nations have "come out of their comfort zones" to work together.

Bangladesh faces huge risks from climate change as sea level rise threatens the low-lying nation.

Of course we would have liked more, he says, and reminds the room that the real test is delivering on promises.