Brazil’s climate chief, the minister, has urged every country to demonstrate the courage needed to confront the imperative of a global transition away from fossil fuels, describing the development of a detailed plan as an “ethical” response to the climate crisis.
She stressed, though, that involvement in this endeavor would be optional and “independently decided” for willing governments.
The topic stands as one of the most contentious subjects at the UN climate summit in the host country, with countries divided over if and in what way such a strategy can be addressed. As the host, Brazil has maintained a carefully neutral stance on which items can be placed on the formal agenda.
Silva expressed support for the possibility of a plan, without explicitly committing Brazil to it. She remarked: “In times we have a situation that is quite grim, it is good that we have a map. But the guide does not force us to proceed, or to advance.”
In an interview, she added: “The map is an response to our scientific knowledge [of the climate crisis]. It is an moral answer.”
Scores of nations meeting in the host city for the UN climate summit, which is starting its next phase, are seeking to establish how a global phaseout of oil, gas, and coal could be implemented. They hope to build on a landmark agreement reached two years ago at a previous UN summit to “move away from fossil fuels.”
That pledge lacked a schedule or specifics on the way it could be realized, and even though it was passed unanimously, some countries have later attempted to disavow the pledge. Attempts last year to expand on its real-world implications were stymied by opposition from oil-dependent nations at COP29.
Consequently, there was no mention of the transition away from carbon fuels in the final agreement of COP29.
Because of this, the host has been wary of demands by some nations to place the transition on the schedule for COP30. But the minister has worked hard behind the scenes to ensure the topic could be talked about at the summit apart from the formal program.
The minister convinced the nation's president, who gave public reference three times to the need to “move away from dependence on traditional energy” at the summit of world leaders that preceded the conference, and at the start of the event.
“The issue is a matter that we know at a certain time had to be put forward, because it is the only way to face the issue from the root,” Marina Silva said. “We recognise that it is not easy, and we cannot sell false hopes. Bringing up the subject is brave, and I hope [to see] this courage from everyone, from producing nations and using countries.”
The nation had not initiated the push for a phaseout, she clarified, because that had been done at COP28. Instead, it was enabling the talks to occur in accordance with what some nations desired. “We understand these subjects are sensitive. We will give the chance to discuss it,” the minister said.
There is not enough time at COP30 to draw up a roadmap, a task Silva said could take several years because many nations faced complicated challenges around dependence on carbon-based energy, or aimed to use the proceeds from selling oil and gas to fund their development.
“The country raises the topic, because Brazil is both a producing nation and user,” she noted. “But Brazil is unique, because Brazil, if it chooses to, does not have to depend on non-renewables. We have to recognise that there are certain nations that rely on carbon energy in their economies and don’t have easy solutions, and some where oil and gas are the foundation of their economic structure.
“To be just is to be just to all, but the essential, primordial justice is to avoid being unjust to the planet, because it is our home.”
Should the proposal gains enough backing, COP30 could set up a platform in which the process of creating a roadmap to the phaseout could begin.
The endeavor would involve dialogue with every signatory countries to the UN climate treaty and criteria for how the initiative would unfold, the minister explained. “Once we have criteria, a management framework can be developed; after we have a strategy, and create protections to be able to build confidence in the process, I am confident that with these elements we can turn good ideas into actions that are more defined, and more tangible.”
It is uncertain that a proposal to begin developing a plan would win approval at the conference, although it may not need the official approval of the conference, which operates by unanimous agreement and can be hijacked by special interests. Climate experts have suggested they believe there could be backing for such a idea from about 60 countries, but there are thought to be at least 40 opposed. A total of one hundred ninety-five countries participating at the talks.
“Despite being the root cause of climate change, fossil fuels are about the most divisive subject there is within the international climate talks, so to see a chunky group of nations publicly backing a path to achieving global phaseout is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”
“In simple terms, there’s no path to a world where temperature rise remains below 1.5 degrees in which nations aren’t able to talk about fossil fuel phaseout.”
“We need this language for real in this conversation. It’s quite stupid that we discuss everything but that when the main issue are the actual challenge.”
Negotiations carried on on Saturday on four outstanding issues that have not yet been included into the official agenda: trade, openness, finance and how to tackle the shortfall between the carbon reduction countries have planned and those required to hold to the 1.5-degree temperature limit.
The COP30 president pledged a “document” that would address these matters, after consultations – which have been going on since the start of the week – were unresolved. He called on nations to adopt the “mutirão” spirit, referring to one of cooperation and positive discussion.
Work on additional substantive issues – including adaptation to the effects of the climate crisis, the fair shift for those affected by the move to a low-carbon economic system and how to build governance capabilities in less developed nations – carried on constructively, the host reported.
The host nation's lead representative said the technical phase of the summit proceedings was nearing the end, and the political phase – when government leaders who have the power to alter their countries’ stances join – was starting.
