World leaders have spent two weeks debating the path forward in the global fight against climate change at an annual global summit, held this year in Dubai. The 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference, commonly referred to as COP28, was scheduled to end Tuesday but it now appears the conference will go longer as negotiators seek a consensus agreement. The goal is an agreement that will keep the world on track to avoid the worst-projected impacts of global warming. Oil-producing nations have protested the inclusion in the agreement of language that would demand the phaseout of fossil fuels.

Some major agreements have already been announced during COP28. More than 100 nations agreed to create a landmark loss-and-damage fund to help the world’s most threatened places cope with disasters. Agreements have also been reached to triple renewable energy production and to reduce emissions from the agriculture sector. And dozens of oil and gas companies announced a commitment to slash emissions of methane, which is a particularly potent greenhouse gas.

U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone (D-6th) who recently returned from COP28, said in an interview with NJ Spotlight News he’s proud of the strides made even as debate rages over the summit’s headline agreement.