A UN climate deal that approved a call to transition away from fossil fuels has been hailed as a major milestone and a cause for at least cautious optimism. But many climate scientists said the joyful sentiments of world leaders did not accurately reflect the limited ambition of the agreement. Michael Mann, a climatologist and geophysicist at the University of Pennsylvania, criticized the vagueness of the fossil fuel statement, which has no firm, accountable boundaries for how much countries should do by when. "The agreement to 'transition away from fossil fuels' was weak tea at best," he told AFP. "It's like promising your doctor that you will 'transition away from donuts' after being diagnosed with diabetes. The lack of an agreement to phase out fossil fuels was devastating." As climate scientists push back against COP28 cheer, FRANCE 24's Tom Burges Watson is joined by Kate Levick, Associate Director for Sustainable Finance at E3G.
