Brazil's Minister Calls for Courage to Establish Fossil Energy Phase-out Roadmap at COP30

Brazil’s climate chief, the minister, has called on all nations to demonstrate the courage needed to address the imperative of a global transition away from fossil fuels, labeling the creation of a detailed plan as an “moral” response to the climate crisis.

The minister emphasized, though, that involvement in this endeavor would be optional and “self-determined” for willing governments.

The topic stands as one of the most debated matters at the UN climate summit in the host country, with countries split over if and how such a roadmap can be addressed. Hosting the event, the nation has maintained a balanced stance on which items can be placed on the official schedule.

The official voiced support for the potential of a roadmap, though not explicitly pledging the country to it. She stated: “When we have a situation that is very challenging, it is good that we have a guide. But the guide does not compel us to proceed, or to advance.”

Speaking further, the minister added: “The roadmap 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 entering its next phase, are aiming to determine how a global phaseout of oil, gas, and coal could be implemented. These nations aim to build on a landmark resolution made two years ago at a previous UN summit to “transition away from fossil fuels.”

The commitment had no a schedule or details on the way it could be achieved, and although it was adopted by all, several countries have since attempted to disavow the promise. Efforts last year to elaborate on its practical implications were blocked by resistance from petrostates at COP29.

As a result, there was no mention of the transition away from carbon fuels in the final agreement of COP29.

For these reasons, the host has been wary of demands by certain countries to place the transition on the agenda for the current summit. But the minister has worked hard behind the scenes to make sure the pledge could be talked about at the summit apart from the formal program.

She convinced Brazil’s president, who gave public reference three times to the need to “move away from dependence on traditional energy” at the global leaders' meeting that preceded the conference, and at the opening of the event.

“The issue is something that we know at a certain time had to be raised, because it is the sole way to address the issue from the source,” the minister said. “We recognise that it is challenging, and we must not sell unrealistic expectations. Raising the subject is brave, and I hope [to see] this courage from all, from producing nations and consumers.”

Brazil had not initiated the push for a phaseout, she said, because that had been initiated at the earlier summit. Rather, it was enabling the talks to occur in line with what some countries desired. “We understand these topics are sensitive. We will give the opportunity to talk about it,” she added.

There is not enough time at COP30 to create a roadmap, a task Silva called could take a number of years because numerous countries faced complicated challenges around dependence on fossil fuels, or wanted to use the proceeds from selling oil and gas to fund their development.

“The country brings up the subject, because it is simultaneously a producing nation and consumer,” she said. “But the nation is different, because it, if it chooses to, need not rely on non-renewables. We have to understand that there are certain nations that depend on carbon energy in their economies and don’t have simple alternatives, and some where fossil fuels are the foundation of their economic structure.

“To be fair is to be fair to everyone, but the essential, basic justice is not being unjust to the planet, because it is our home.”

If the pledge gains enough backing, COP30 could establish a forum in which the work of creating a roadmap to the transition could begin.

This process would require discussions with all participating nations to the UN climate treaty and guidelines for how the process would proceed, the minister explained. “Once we have standards, a management framework can be drawn up; after we have a strategy, and establish safeguards to be able to establish trust in the system, I am confident that with these components we can turn good ideas into actions that are clearer, and more concrete.”

It is uncertain that a proposal to start developing a plan would be accepted at the conference, even if it does not require the formal approval of the summit, which proceeds by unanimous agreement and can be hijacked by particular groups. COP experts have indicated they think there could be backing for such a proposal from about 60 nations, but there are believed to be at least 40 opposed. There are one hundred ninety-five nations participating at the negotiations.

“In spite of being the root cause of global warming, fossil fuels are about the most divisive subject there is within the UN negotiations, so to see a chunky group of nations publicly backing a route to realizing worldwide phaseout is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

“In simple terms, there’s no route to a world where temperature rise stays below 1.5 degrees in which nations aren’t able to talk about fossil fuel phaseout.”

“We need this wording for real in this discussion. It’s highly illogical that we discuss all topics but then when fossil fuels are the actual problem.”

Discussions carried on on the weekend on several outstanding topics that have not yet been incorporated into the official schedule: trade, openness, funding and how to tackle the shortfall between the carbon reduction nations have planned and those needed to hold to the 1.5-degree warming limit.

A summit chair pledged a “note” that would cover these issues, after consultations – which have been going on since Monday – were unresolved. The official urged nations to embrace the “mutirão” attitude, referring to one of cooperation and positive discussion.

Work on other key issues – including adaptation to the effects of the climate emergency, the fair shift for those impacted by the transition to a green economy and how to build institutional capacity in developing countries – proceeded constructively, the presidency reported.

Brazil’s chief negotiator said the detailed phase of the summit proceedings was approaching completion, and the high-level stage – when ministers who have the power to alter their countries’ positions join – was starting.