Key Points:

• The COP28 climate summit is at risk of collapse as a draft deal fails to mention phasing out fossil fuels.
• Earlier text calling for a ban on fossil fuels was removed from the document, causing concern among EU and developing nations.
• Climate activist Al Gore warns that COP28 is on the brink of "complete failure."
• The EU representative calls the draft "unacceptable" and threatens to walk away from the talks in Dubai.
• Despite the challenges, COP28's failure is not the desired outcome for the world.

The COP28 climate summit is teetering on the edge of failure as a draft deal released last night does not include any mention of phasing out fossil fuels. This exclusion has sparked concern among European Union (EU) officials and many developing nations, particularly those most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. The removal of language calling for a ban on fossil fuels has been deemed "unacceptable" by an EU representative, who has warned that the bloc could withdraw from the talks in Dubai.

Irish environment minister Eamon Ryan, who is also the EU negotiator, expressed his dissatisfaction with the draft text, stating, "We can't accept the text." However, he emphasized that a complete failure of COP28 is not the desired outcome for the global community. The absence of a commitment to ending fossil fuels has drawn sharp criticism from climate activist and former US Vice President Al Gore, who believes the draft was heavily influenced by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Gore took to Twitter, saying, "The world desperately needs to phase out fossil fuels as quickly as possible, but this obsequious draft reads as if OPEC dictated it word for word. It is deeply offensive to all who have taken this process seriously."