🔗 Share this article

The climate chief, the minister, has called on every country to demonstrate the courage needed to address the imperative of a worldwide fossil fuel phaseout, describing the development of a roadmap as an “ethical” response to the climate crisis.

The minister stressed, though, that participation in this process would be voluntary and “self-determined” for interested governments.

The topic remains one of the most contentious subjects at the UN climate summit in Brazil, with nations split over if and how such a roadmap can be discussed. Hosting the event, Brazil has maintained a carefully neutral position on what can be placed on the official agenda.

The official voiced support for the potential of a roadmap, without explicitly committing the country to it. She stated: “When we have a situation that is very challenging, it is helpful that we have a map. But the map does not force us to travel, or to climb.”

Speaking further, she noted: “The map is an response to our scientific understanding [of the climate emergency]. It is an ethical response.”

Scores of countries meeting in the host city for the UN climate summit, which is starting its second week, are seeking to establish how a worldwide transition of fossil fuels could work. They hope to build on a historic agreement made two years ago at COP28 to “move away from non-renewable energy sources.”

The pledge had no a timetable or specifics on the way it could be realized, and although it was adopted by all, several nations have since attempted to back away from the promise. Efforts last year to expand on its practical meaning were stymied by opposition from petrostates at COP29.

Consequently, there was no mention of the transition away from fossil fuels in the final agreement of that conference.

Because of this, Brazil has been wary of demands by certain countries to include the transition on the schedule for the current summit. But the minister has worked hard in private to ensure the topic could be talked about at the conference outside the formal agenda.

She won over the nation's president, who made public reference repeatedly to the need to “move away from dependence on fossil fuels” at the global leaders' meeting that preceded COP30, and at the start of the event.

“The issue is a matter that we understand at some point had to be raised, because it is the sole way to address the issue from the root,” Marina Silva explained. “We recognise that it is challenging, and we must not sell unrealistic expectations. Bringing up the topic is courageous, and I wish [to see] this courage from all, from producers and consumers.”

Brazil had not initiated the call for a transition, she said, because that had been initiated at the earlier summit. Rather, it was enabling the discussions to occur in line with what some nations wished. “We know these topics are sensitive. We will provide the chance to discuss it,” she added.

There is not enough time at the summit to create a roadmap, a process Silva called could take several years because many countries confronted complicated issues around dependence on carbon-based energy, or wanted to use the revenue from exporting fossil fuels to fund their development.

“Brazil brings up the topic, because Brazil is simultaneously a producing nation and consumer,” she noted. “But Brazil is unique, because Brazil, if it chooses to, need not depend on non-renewables. We have to recognise that there are certain nations that depend on carbon energy in their economies and lack simple solutions, and some where fossil fuels are the basis of their economic structure.

“To be just is to be fair to all, but the essential, basic fairness is not being unfair to the planet, because it is our home.”

Should the pledge gains sufficient support, the summit could set up a forum in which the work of drawing up a strategy to the phaseout could start.

The endeavor would involve dialogue with every signatory countries to the UN framework convention on climate change and criteria for how the initiative would unfold, Silva said. “Once we have standards, a management framework can be developed; once we have a strategy, and establish safeguards to be able to establish trust in the process, I believe that with these elements we can turn positive concepts into steps that are clearer, and more concrete.”

It is uncertain that a proposal to start developing a roadmap would win approval at the conference, although it does not require the formal approval of the conference, which proceeds by consensus and can be disrupted by special interests. COP experts have suggested they believe there could be support for such a proposal from about sixty nations, but there are thought to be at least forty against. A total of 195 countries participating at the negotiations.

“In spite of being the root cause of global warming, carbon-based energy are about the most contentious subject there is within the international climate talks, so to see a chunky group of countries openly supporting a path to achieving worldwide transition is in itself highly significant.”

“In simple terms, there’s no path to a world where temperature rise stays below 1.5C in which countries aren’t able to discuss fossil fuel phaseout.”

“We require this wording for actual in this conversation. It’s quite stupid that we talk about everything but then when fossil fuels are the actual challenge.”

Discussions continued on the weekend on four outstanding issues that have not yet been incorporated into the formal agenda: commerce, transparency, funding and how to address the gap between the emissions cuts countries have planned and those needed to keep to the 1.5C warming target.

The COP30 chair promised a “note” that would cover these issues, after consultations – which have been underway since Monday – were inconclusive. The official called on nations to adopt the “mutirão” attitude, meaning one of collaboration and positive discussion.

Work on other key topics – including adjustment to the effects of the climate crisis, the just transition for those affected by the transition to a green economic system and how to build governance capabilities in developing countries – proceeded productively, the presidency said.

The host nation's chief negotiator said the technical part of the COP process was nearing completion, and the high-level stage – when ministers who have the power to alter their nations' stances join – was beginning.