The European Union will seek a global phaseout of fossil fuels and for their use to reach a peak in this decade, according to the member states' common position adopted unanimously late Monday.

At the COP28 UN climate talks in Dubai from 30 November to 12 December, the bloc will also call for eliminating "as soon as possible" subsidies for fossil fuels which do not serve to combat energy poverty or ensure a "just transition" — but without setting a deadline as non-government organizations hoped.

"(The European) Council stresses that the transition to a climate-neutral economy will require a global phaseout of unabated fossil fuels and a peak in their consumption in this decade," a statement released after the meeting of EU environment ministers in Luxembourg said.

At the same time, the 27 European nations will advocate "the importance of having the energy sector predominantly free of fossil fuels well before 2050."

Brussels is looking to triple the amount of global renewable energy used by the end of this decade and double energy efficiency in line with the goals of the COP28 presidency.

The EU has already set itself a horizon of 2050 to abolish "unabated" fossil fuels — meaning those reliant on coal, oil and gas that do not have mechanisms to capture or store carbon.