Brazilian Environment Minister Calls for Courage to Establish Fossil Fuel Phase-out Plan at COP30

The climate chief, Marina Silva, has called on all nations to demonstrate the courage needed to address the imperative of a global fossil fuel phaseout, describing the development of a roadmap as an “ethical” answer to the climate crisis.

She emphasized, though, that participation in this endeavor would be optional and “independently decided” for interested nations.

This issue stands as one of the most contentious matters at the UN climate summit in the host country, with countries divided over if and how such a strategy can be addressed. As the host, the nation has adopted a balanced position on what can be included on the official agenda.

The official voiced support for the potential of a roadmap, though not directly committing the country to it. The minister remarked: “When we have a terrain that is very challenging, it is good that we have a map. But the map does not compel us to proceed, or to advance.”

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

Scores of nations meeting in Belém for the UN climate summit, which is starting its second week, are seeking to establish how a worldwide phaseout of oil, gas, and coal could be implemented. They aim to advance a landmark resolution made two years ago at COP28 to “move away from non-renewable energy sources.”

The pledge had no a timetable or details on how it could be achieved, and even though it was passed by all, several countries have since attempted to disavow the pledge. Attempts last year to elaborate on its real-world implications were stymied by opposition from oil-dependent nations at another UN summit.

As a result, 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 agenda for the current summit. But the minister has strived behind the scenes to make sure the pledge could be discussed at the conference apart from the formal program.

She won over the nation's president, who made mention repeatedly to the need to “move away from dependence on fossil fuels” at the global leaders' meeting that came before the conference, and at the start of the summit.

“The issue is something that we understand at some point had to be raised, because it is the sole way to address the problem from the source,” the minister said. “We recognise that it is not easy, and we cannot sell false hopes. Bringing up the topic is brave, and I hope [to see] this courage from all, from producing nations and using countries.”

Brazil had not initiated the call for a transition, she said, because that had been initiated at COP28. Rather, it was enabling the talks to occur in line with what some nations desired. “We know these subjects are sensitive. We will provide the chance to discuss it,” she added.

Time is insufficient at the summit to draw up a detailed plan, a process Silva said could take a number of years because numerous countries faced complex challenges around reliance on fossil fuels, or wanted to use the revenue from selling oil and gas to finance their economic growth.

“The country raises the subject, because Brazil is both a producing nation and user,” she noted. “But the nation is unique, because it, if it wants to, does not have to rely on non-renewables. We have to understand that there are some that rely on carbon energy in their economies and don’t have simple alternatives, and others where oil and gas are the basis of their economic structure.

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

Should the proposal receives enough support, COP30 could set up a platform in which the process of drawing up a roadmap to the phaseout could start.

The process would require discussions with all signatory countries to the UN framework convention on climate change and criteria for how the process would proceed, the minister said. “Once we have criteria, a governance structure can be drawn up; once we have a plan, and create safeguards to be able to build trust in the process, I believe that with these components we can transform positive concepts into steps that are clearer, and more tangible.”

It is uncertain that a proposal to start drawing up a roadmap would win approval at COP30, although it may not need the official consent of the summit, which operates by consensus and can be hijacked by particular groups. COP experts have suggested they believe there could be backing for such a idea from about 60 nations, but there are thought to be at least 40 opposed. There are one hundred ninety-five nations participating at the talks.

“Despite being the primary source of global warming, fossil fuels are about the most divisive subject there is within the international climate talks, so to see a sizable coalition of countries openly backing a path to realizing global transition is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

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

“We need this wording for real in this conversation. It’s quite stupid that we discuss everything but then when the main issue are the actual problem.”

Negotiations carried on on the weekend on four unresolved topics that have still not been incorporated into the official agenda: trade, transparency, finance and how to address the gap between the carbon reduction countries have planned and those needed to keep to the 1.5C temperature target.

A summit president promised a “note” that would cover these matters, after consultations – which have been going on since the start of the week – were inconclusive. He called on countries to adopt the “mutirão” spirit, referring to one of collaboration and constructive dialogue.

Progress on additional key topics – including adjustment to the effects of the climate emergency, the just transition for those affected by the move to a green economic system and how to strengthen governance capabilities in less developed nations – carried on productively, the host said.

The host nation's chief negotiator stated the detailed phase of the COP process was nearing the end, and the high-level stage – when ministers who have the authority to alter their nations' stances arrive – was beginning.