🔗 Share this article

The environment minister, the minister, has called on every country to demonstrate the bravery needed to confront the imperative of a worldwide fossil fuel phaseout, labeling the creation of a detailed plan as an “moral” response to the global warming emergency.

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

The topic remains one of the most contentious subjects at the COP30 in the host country, with countries divided over whether and how such a roadmap can be discussed. As the host, Brazil has maintained a carefully neutral stance on what can be included on the official schedule.

Silva expressed approval for the potential of a plan, without explicitly pledging Brazil to it. The minister remarked: “In times we have a situation that is very challenging, it is good that we have a guide. But the map does not force us to proceed, or to advance.”

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

Dozens of countries meeting in Belém for the global climate conference, which is entering its next phase, are seeking to determine how a worldwide transition of fossil fuels could be implemented. These nations hope to build on a landmark resolution made two years ago at COP28 to “transition away from fossil fuels.”

The commitment lacked a schedule or specifics on the way it could be realized, and although it was adopted by all, several countries have since attempted to back away from the promise. Efforts last year to elaborate on its real-world meaning were stymied by opposition from petrostates at another UN summit.

Consequently, there was no reference of the shift away from fossil fuels in the outcome of COP29.

Because of this, Brazil has been wary of demands by certain countries to include the transition on the schedule for the current summit. But Silva has worked hard in private to make sure the topic could be talked about at the conference outside the formal agenda.

She convinced the nation's leader, and he made mention three times to the need to “shift from reliance on traditional energy” at the summit of world leaders that preceded COP30, and at the opening of the summit.

“This is something that we know at some point had to be put forward, because it is the only way to address the issue from the source,” the minister said. “We recognise that it is challenging, and we must not offer unrealistic expectations. Raising the topic is brave, and I wish [to see] this bravery from all, from producing nations and using countries.”

The nation had not started the push for a transition, she clarified, because that had been initiated at COP28. Rather, it was enabling the talks to occur in accordance with what some nations wished. “We understand these subjects are delicate. We will provide the opportunity to discuss it,” she said.

Time is insufficient at COP30 to draw up a roadmap, a task the minister called could take several years because many countries confronted complex issues around dependence on carbon-based energy, or aimed to use the revenue from exporting fossil fuels to fund their development.

“The country raises the topic, because it is both a producing nation and consumer,” she noted. “But Brazil is unique, because Brazil, if it chooses to, need not rely on fossil fuels. We have to understand that there are some that depend on carbon energy in their economic systems and don’t have easy solutions, and some where fossil fuels are the basis of their economy.

“To be fair is to be just to everyone, but the fundamental, primordial justice is to avoid being unfair to the Earth, because it is our shared home.”

If the pledge receives sufficient support, the summit could establish a forum in which the work of drawing up a roadmap to the phaseout could begin.

The process would require dialogue with every participating nations to the UN climate treaty and guidelines for how the initiative would unfold, Silva said. “Once we have criteria, a management framework can be drawn up; after we have a plan, and create safeguards to be able to build confidence in the system, I believe that with these elements we can transform good ideas into steps that are clearer, and more concrete.”

There is no guarantee that a proposal to begin developing a roadmap would be accepted at the conference, although it may not need the official approval of the summit, which operates by consensus and can be disrupted by special interests. Climate analysts have indicated they think there could be backing for such a proposal from about sixty nations, but there are believed to be at least 40 against. There are one hundred ninety-five nations represented 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 international climate talks, so to see a chunky group of nations openly supporting a path to realizing worldwide transition is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

“Put simply, there’s no route to a world where warming stays below 1.5C in which countries aren’t able to talk about fossil fuel phaseout.”

“We require this language for actual in this conversation. It’s quite stupid that we talk about everything but that when fossil fuels are the real problem.”

Discussions carried on on Saturday on four unresolved issues that have still not been incorporated into the formal agenda: trade, openness, finance and how to address the gap between the emissions cuts nations have planned and those needed to keep to the 1.5C temperature target.

A summit president pledged a “document” that would cover these issues, after consultations – which have been underway since the start of the week – were unresolved. The official urged nations to embrace the “mutirão” spirit, referring to one of cooperation and constructive discussion.

Progress on additional key topics – such as adaptation to the effects of the climate crisis, the fair shift for those impacted by the transition to a green economic system and how to build institutional capacity in developing countries – carried on constructively, the host said.

The host nation's lead representative stated the detailed phase of the summit proceedings was nearing completion, and the high-level phase – when ministers who have the authority to change their countries’ positions join – was beginning.