UN climate change executive secretary Simon Stiell said in his closing speech at COP28: “Whilst we didn’t turn the page on the fossil fuel era in Dubai, this outcome is the beginning of the end.” Stiell added that all governments – as well as businesses – need to turn the pledges made into “real-economy outcomes, without delay”. While the overall message of the agreement has been welcomed, sector bodies AAFA and USFIA said there was more to be done, as they looked away from governments and towards private businesses for the changes needed.