Alok Sharma, the conference chairman, encouraged the nearly 200 national delegations gathered in Glasgow to agree on a deal that aims to address the needs of climate-vulnerable nations, major industrial powers, and countries reliant on fossil fuel consumption or exports for economic growth. In the final hours of a two-week conference that had already gone over schedule by a day, Sharma urged the delegates to consider if the proposed package is fair and sufficient for everyone. He emphasized the importance of ensuring that the texts ultimately benefit all people and the planet. Prior to a plenary meeting to vote on the deal, representatives from India, China, the United States, and the European Union met to discuss language regarding a mutually agreed upon phase-out of coal, as stated by a member of the Indian delegation. The final agreement must receive unanimous approval from the countries present, which include coal- and gas-fueled superpowers, oil producers, and Pacific islands threatened by rising sea levels. The primary objective of the meeting is to work towards achieving the 2015 Paris Agreement's goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. A preliminary agreement circulated on Saturday acknowledged that current commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are insufficient and called for nations to set more ambitious climate goals annually, rather than every five years as currently mandated. During a public discussion with key delegations, there was support for Sharma when China, the largest producer and consumer of coal, stated that they had no intention of revisiting the text. The West African country of Guinea, representing the G77 group of developing nations, advocated for richer countries to provide compensation for "loss and damage" caused by climate disasters. Guinea acknowledged the progress made but India, reliant on coal for energy, expressed dissatisfaction. Environment and Climate Minister Bhupender Yadav stated that consensus was still uncertain, while EU Climate Commissioner Frans Timmermans warned against delaying progress by requesting more changes. Scientists warn that exceeding a 1.5C temperature rise would lead to severe consequences such as extreme sea level rise, droughts, storms, and wildfires. However, current commitments by countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, primarily from coal, oil, and gas, would only limit global temperature rise to 2.4 degrees Celsius. A recent draft from the United Nations urged for the elimination of coal power and reduction of government subsidies for fossil fuels that contribute to climate change. Past UN conferences on climate change have not specifically targeted the harmful effects of fossil fuels.