At COP-28 in Dubai this week, weary international delegates and environmental activists celebrated a “historic breakthrough” in negotiations to stop global warming. For the first time in 32 years of negotiations, an agreement mentions “transitioning away from fossil fuels.”
“Officials from around the globe suggested the deal is an important step towards ending the use of fossil fuels,” Aljazeera reported. Other news outlets called it a landmark and historic development. America’s climate envoy, John Kerry, said the words send “very strong messages to the world.”
He’s correct, but not for the reason he meant. The message is that expectations for these annual conferences are so low that even the most inescapable aspiration is reason to cheer.
