Berlin: Germany urged governments worldwide on Tuesday to work towards establishing an ambitious renewable energy target that would "ring in the end of the fossil fuel age" and aid in halting dangerous global warming.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock noted that the world needs to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions in order to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit). She was speaking at the beginning of a two-day meeting in Berlin attended by dozens of top climate envoys.

"But we also know that not all countries are prepared to do so," she added. That is why I want to start a discussion about whether the next climate conference should and can set a target for renewable energy sources.

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In contrast to a previous attempt to establish a deadline for phase-out of all fossil fuels, Baerbock's proposal was met with strong opposition from major oil and gas exporting countries. Instead, they support the idea of capturing emissions that cause global warming as a means of lowering atmospheric greenhouse gas levels. These so-called carbon capture and storage technologies, according to experts, haven't been tested on a large scale and may necessitate significant investments at the expense of less expensive options like solar and wind energy.

Speaking to representatives from about 40 nations gathered for the annual Petersberg Climate Dialogue in the German capital, Baerbock asserted that renewable energy sources like solar and wind power are already the most economical way to produce energy in the majority of the world.

She stated that the "end of the fossil fuel era must be our goal for the (climate conference) in Dubai." The United Arab Emirates, which will host the UN climate summit this year, gave the idea a cool reception.

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"In a pragmatic, just, and well-managed energy transition, we must be laser-focused on phasing out fossil fuel emissions, while phasing up and scaling up viable, affordable zero-carbon alternatives," said Sultan Al-Jaber, a former oil company executive who will lead the COP28 climate summit from November 30 to December 12. He spoke, putting special emphasis on the word "emissions".

"We know that the energies used today will still be a part of the global energy mix for the foreseeable future," he continued. As a result, "while we build a new energy system capable of transitioning even the most heavy-emitting industries, we will work with the world to decarbonize the current energy system."

The majority of the global warming that has occurred since the beginning of the industrial era is attributed to the use of fossil fuels, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for an end to all fossil fuel use, warning that if this goal is not met, the temperature rise could exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit). However, only coal has received a warning thus far, despite a two-year-old international agreement to "phase down" its use.

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According to environmental activists, if the coal, oil, and gas industry is to be successfully shut down, solutions must also be found for the millions of workers in it as well as alternative energy sources for the billions of people who still depend on cheap fossil fuels.