Diplomatic hits and misses of 2023

COP28 adopts first-ever deal on fossil fuels

The 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, or COP28, ended in December with the final text of the climate deal calling for "transitioning away from fossil fuels".

The agreement was unanimously approved by 198 nations. It marked the first time that firm action on fossil fuels has been agreed at a COP summit.

When the negotiations got stuck, China and the United States worked together, provided "some joint proposals to unlock the deadlock, and facilitated the success of the COP", said Xie Zhenhua, China's special envoy for climate change.

China and the US have released an agreement which addressed the national actions of the two countries, such as accelerating renewables and deployment to substitute for fossil fuels, said John Kerry, the US special presidential envoy for climate.