The day I started my role as a climate columnist was the day that Sultan Al Jaber was announced as the president-designate of COP28. I couldn’t have asked for a better introduction to a key tension around climate action – how to achieve deep and rapid fossil-fuel cuts in economies reliant on them. After attending the United Nations Climate Change Conference almost a year later, I’m a bit more optimistic: 97,000 registered attendees shows the world at least recognizes the scale of the problem.

COP28 has now ended, with an historic deal mentioning moving away from oil and gas in a COP text for the first time. The final version asks nations to contribute to global efforts on “transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy systems.” It’s not perfect: “Calls on Parties to contribute” is stronger than a draft that suggested moves “could include” ditching fossil fuels, but it’s still a fairly weak invitation to action. It’s not the definitive “phase out” phrasing that many were hoping for, and it’s also not job done: Real world results will only be seen if countries actually make good on this agreement with proper implementation. Still, it’s something to cheer.