At the COP30 climate summit in Brazil, tensions are escalating as 29 nations demand the inclusion of a roadmap for phasing out fossil fuels in the final agreement. A strongly worded letter was sent to Brazil’s chairperson, emphasizing this demand, which is seen as non-negotiable for many countries involved.
Despite an initial draft proposing the roadmap, Brazil may withdraw this option under pressure from oil-producing nations like Saudi Arabia and Russia, as well as major fossil fuel consumers such as India. Some opponents threatened to exit negotiations, further complicated by a fire at the conference center that delayed talks.
Supporters of the roadmap argue that without it, the summit’s outcomes would be viewed as inadequate, especially following the commitments made at COP28 in Dubai for a global transition away from fossil fuels. This transition is currently lacking a specific timeline or guidelines.
The supported roadmap initiative aims to establish a forum for nations to discuss individual transition strategies without mandating specific deadlines. Over 80 countries have joined this initiative, pressing for a strong agreement that prioritizes financing for adaptation and tackling climate pollution drivers like fossil fuels and deforestation.
The Colombian Environment Minister stressed that the summit’s success should not be measured simply by adopting a document, but by its substantive outcomes, warning that a weak agreement would undermine future climate efforts. Negotiations, initially set to conclude on Friday, are expected to extend into the weekend.
Key unresolved issues include the inadequacy of national climate plans to meet the 1.5°C target and the financial support for developing nations to cope with climate impacts.
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