At a summit where tension is growing over different visions for the future of fossil fuels, Stiell told during a news conference: “All governments must give their negotiators clear marching orders. We need the highest ambition, not point scoring or lowest common denominator politics.”

UN climate chief Simon Stiell told countries on Wednesday to “ Agree on ambitious action to tackle global warming at the COP28 climate summit rather than fall into the trap of point scoring and lowest common denominator politics”.

At the summit where divergent perspectives on the future of fossil fuels are causing tension, Stiell told during a  news conference that, “all governments must give their negotiators clear marching orders. We need highest ambition, not point scoring or lowest common denominator politics.”

As the two-week conference draws to a close, Stiell makes his comments. At this point, the initial burst of promises and disclosures has subsided, and the focus shifts to the developments that have been occurring behind closed doors.

“We have a starting text on the table but it’s a grab bag of wish lists and heavy on posturing. The key now is to sort the wheat from the chaff,” he said.

He further mentioned that there are numerous options currently under consideration, indicating a move towards the gradual reduction of reliance on fossil fuels. Stiell suggested that it is the responsibility of parties involved to analyse these options and formulate a definitive statement signalling the eventual decline of the fossil fuel era as it is currently understood.