Climate summit makes ‘historic progress’ — but the world still can’t quit oil

Climate talks in Dubai ended with a deal to curb the use of fossil fuels that was both historic and 30 years too late.

The two-week conference, held in the oil-rich desert kingdom of the United Arab Emirates and presided over by an oil CEO, brought two competing realities into a painful collision. The planet is overheating, yet humanity remains inextricably reliant on coal, oil and natural gas.

The talks ended on Wednesday with a deal among almost 200 countries that committed to “transitioning away from fossil fuels,” notably by...