🔗 Share this article

The climate chief, the minister, has called on every country to show the bravery needed to address the necessity of a worldwide transition away from fossil fuels, describing the creation of a detailed plan as an “moral” answer to the climate crisis.

She stressed, though, that involvement in this process would be optional and “independently decided” for interested nations.

The topic remains one of the most debated matters at the COP30 in the host country, with nations split over whether and in what way such a strategy can be discussed. As the host, Brazil has maintained a balanced position on which items can be placed on the official schedule.

The official voiced approval for the possibility of a plan, without explicitly committing the country to it. She stated: “In times we have a situation that is very challenging, it is good that we have a guide. But the guide does not force us to proceed, or to advance.”

Speaking further, the minister noted: “The roadmap is an answer to our scientific understanding [of the climate emergency]. It is an moral response.”

Scores of countries gathered in the host city for the global climate conference, which is entering its next phase, are aiming to determine how a worldwide phaseout of fossil fuels could be implemented. These nations aim to advance a landmark resolution reached two years ago at a previous UN summit to “transition away from non-renewable energy sources.”

That pledge lacked a schedule or details on the way it could be realized, and even though it was adopted by all, several countries have since tried to disavow the pledge. Attempts last year to expand on its real-world implications were blocked by resistance from oil-dependent nations at another UN summit.

As a result, there was no mention of the shift away from fossil fuels in the outcome of COP29.

Because of this, the host has been cautious of demands by some countries to place the phaseout on the schedule for the current summit. But Silva has strived behind the scenes to ensure the topic could be talked about at the conference outside the official program.

The minister convinced Brazil’s leader, and he gave mention repeatedly to the need to “shift from dependence on fossil fuels” at the global leaders' meeting that came before COP30, and at the opening of the summit.

“The issue is a matter that we understand at a certain time had to be put forward, because it is the only way to face the issue from the root,” the minister said. “We acknowledge that it is challenging, and we cannot sell unrealistic expectations. Raising the topic is brave, and I wish [to see] this courage from all, from producers and consumers.”

The nation had not started the call for a transition, she clarified, because that had been done at the earlier summit. Rather, it was allowing the discussions to take place in accordance with what certain countries wished. “We know these subjects are sensitive. We will provide the opportunity to talk about it,” the minister added.

There is not enough time at COP30 to create a detailed plan, a process Silva said could take a number of years because many nations faced complex issues around reliance on fossil fuels, or aimed to use the proceeds from exporting oil and gas to fund their economic growth.

“The country brings up the subject, because Brazil is simultaneously a producing nation and user,” the minister noted. “But Brazil is different, because Brazil, if it chooses to, need not depend on non-renewables. We have to understand that there are certain nations that rely on fossil fuels in their economic systems and lack easy solutions, and some where oil and gas are the basis of their economic structure.

“To be fair is to be fair to everyone, but the fundamental, basic fairness is to avoid being unjust to the Earth, because it is our home.”

If the pledge receives sufficient backing, COP30 could set up a platform in which the work of creating a strategy to the phaseout could begin.

This endeavor would involve dialogue with every participating nations to the UN climate treaty and guidelines for how the process would proceed, the minister explained. “After we have standards, a governance structure can be drawn up; after we have a strategy, and create safeguards to be able to establish confidence in the process, I am confident that with these elements we can turn positive concepts into actions that are more defined, and more concrete.”

There is no guarantee that a proposal to begin drawing up a plan would win approval at the conference, even if it does not require the official approval of the summit, which operates by unanimous agreement and can be hijacked by special interests. COP experts have suggested they think there could be support for such a proposal from about 60 nations, but there are thought to be at least 40 against. There are one hundred ninety-five countries participating at the negotiations.

“In spite of being the primary source of climate change, carbon-based energy are about the most divisive subject there is within the UN negotiations, so to see a sizable group of countries publicly backing a path to achieving worldwide phaseout is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

“Put simply, there’s no route to a world where warming remains below 1.5 degrees in which nations aren’t able to discuss fossil fuel phaseout.”

“We need this wording for actual in this discussion. It’s quite stupid that we talk about all topics but then when fossil fuels are the real problem.”

Negotiations carried on on the weekend on several outstanding topics that have not yet been included into the official schedule: commerce, openness, finance and how to tackle the shortfall between the emissions cuts nations have planned and those needed to hold to the 1.5C warming limit.

A summit chair promised a “note” that would address these issues, after consultations – which have been going on since Monday – were unresolved. The official urged countries to adopt the “mutirão” spirit, meaning one of cooperation and constructive discussion.

Progress on other substantive issues – such as adjustment to the impacts of the climate crisis, the just transition for those impacted by the transition to a green economy and how to build institutional capacity in developing countries – carried on constructively, the presidency reported.

The host nation's chief negotiator stated the detailed part of the COP proceedings was approaching completion, and the high-level stage – when government leaders who have the power to alter their countries’ positions arrive – was starting.