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As the summit reaches the end game, the COP President has considerable sway in shaping a compromise. Regrettably, draft text released by Al Jaber overnight, contained no mention of a fossil fuel phase out or phase down, instead suggesting the world reduce “both consumption and production of fossil fuels”. This draft text has been rightly dismissed as unacceptable, including by the Alliance for Small Island States, who declared “we will not sign our own death warrant”, and seemingly by the Umbrella Group, chaired by Australia.

Other major fossil fuel exporters remain unmoved.

Australia has an important role to play in trying to salvage these talks from failure. As one of the world’s major fossil fuel exporters, calls to increase ambition have heightened pressure on others, including petrostates such as the UAE, to follow suit. It sends a message that rich countries can no longer shirk difficult actions on climate change and adds to Australia’s credibility among Pacific Island countries.

Australia’s Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen indicated support for the phase out on Sunday, noting “if we are to keep 1.5 degrees Celsius alive, fossil fuels have no ongoing role to play in our energy systems”. In recent days, Australia also announced it would sign onto the Glasgow statement, committing to end government financing of international oil, gas and coal projects. Bowen is in good company, with at least 100 countries indicating support for a fossil fuel phase out.