The United Nations COP28 talks in Dubai must "mark the beginning of the end" of fossil fuels, the European Union's climate chief has said, as nations are divided over the issue.
European climate commissioner Wopke Hoekstra said there was "still a lot of work ahead of us" as negotiators seek to reach a deal aimed at saving the goal of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
"I want this COP to mark the beginning of the end for fossil fuels," he said at a news conference.
"This is a key part for the EU and ... of our negotiating mandate, meaning that all 27 European member states want this to be part of the negotiated outcome."
Mr Hoekstra noted that scientists have warned that the world must accelerate its emissions reductions this decade.
"We simply have to get rid of fossil fuels," he said.
Read more:
Planet tipping points at 'pivotal moment' for humanity - report
The elephant in the expo centre: Who's hosting COP29?
Latest climate stories
Mr Hoekstra spoke as the UN talks approached their midway point, with a deal due to be finalised, in theory, on 12 December.
The latest draft agreement includes a phrase calling for an "orderly and just" phase-out of fossil fuels.
But there is also another option to not mention the issue at all, language backed so far by Russia, Saudi Arabia and China, according to observers.
UN climate chief tells nations to act rather than score points at COP28
UN climate chief Simon Stiell told countries to agree ambitious action to tackle global warming rather than fall into the trap of point scoring and "lowest common denominator politics".
Mr Stiell told a news conference: "All governments must give their negotiators clear marching orders. We need highest ambition, not point scoring or lowest common denominator politics."
"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.
"There are many options that are on the table right now which speak to the phasing out of fossil fuels. It is for parties to unpick that, but come up with a very clear statement that signals the terminal decline of the fossil fuel era as we know it."
