Opinion: COP28 agreement on adapting to climate change kicks the real challenge down the road

COP28 concluded late on Wednesday morning to a mixed reaction. The Dubai agreement extracted a promise from nearly 200 countries to transition away from fossil fuels, but it leaves many questions unanswered when it comes to keeping global average temperatures from warming by more than 1.5°C. The world is rapidly running out of time to limit temperatures to this level—a crucial threshold for many communities living in low-lying islands and delicate ecosystems such as coral reefs.