Portugal is one of the 123 countries that have committed to tripling renewable energy production and doubling energy efficiency by 2030, according to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate.

"Portugal and 122 other countries have committed to an alliance to triple the production of renewables and double energy efficiency," said Ana Fontoura Gouveia to journalists at the 28th United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP28).

The commitment was announced during an energy-focused ministerial meeting, which, according to Portugal's Secretary of State, highlights further progress in committing to reducing fossil fuels, The Portugal News reports.

"The International Energy Agency presented these two very tangible goals, and this allows each country to have a compass on what they should do individually," the Secretary added, underscoring the urgent need to combat climate change.

One of the 123 countries is the COP28 host, the United Arab Emirates, one of the world's largest producers of fossil fuels.

Ana Fontoura Gouveia made reference to the recent controversy regarding comments made by the COP28 president, saying Sultan Al-Jaber's clarification sends "a very clear signal about ambition."

Al Jaber said on Sunday that he was aware fossil fuels need to be gradually reduced and abandoned altogether, following polemic statements made questioning the goal of a 1.5ºC reduction in global warming.

The Portuguese official said the COP28 president has acted as a leader in regard to "guiding what the results should be," but acknowledges that not all countries start from the same positions.

"Of course, there are countries that defend the elimination of fossil fuels and that argue that the technologies that offset these emissions should only be used in exceptional cases when we have no alternatives. This is not always the understanding of oil-producing countries," she said.

"That's why we are here, to find platforms of understanding and to find a language that allows us to do what is most important, which is in each of our countries to act towards the progressive elimination of fossil fuels until their total elimination."