The environment minister, the minister, has urged all nations to show the bravery needed to confront the imperative of a worldwide fossil fuel phaseout, labeling the development of a roadmap as an “ethical” response to the global warming emergency.
The minister emphasized, however, that involvement in this endeavor would be voluntary and “independently decided” for willing nations.
The topic stands as one of the most contentious matters at the COP30 in the host country, with countries divided over if and how such a roadmap can be addressed. As the host, the nation has adopted a carefully neutral position on what can be placed on the official agenda.
Silva expressed approval for the possibility of a plan, without explicitly pledging Brazil to it. The minister remarked: “In times we have a terrain that is quite grim, it is helpful that we have a guide. But the map does not compel us to proceed, or to climb.”
In an interview, the minister noted: “The roadmap is an response to our scientific knowledge [of the climate crisis]. It is an ethical answer.”
Scores of countries gathered in the host city for the UN climate summit, which is entering its second week, are aiming to establish how a worldwide transition of fossil fuels could be implemented. They hope to advance a historic agreement reached two years ago at COP28 to “transition away from fossil fuels.”
The commitment lacked a timetable or specifics on the way it could be achieved, and even though it was passed unanimously, several nations have later attempted to back away from the pledge. Efforts last year to expand on its practical implications were blocked by resistance from oil-dependent nations at COP29.
As a result, there was no mention of the transition away from carbon fuels in the outcome of COP29.
Because of this, the host has been wary of calls by certain countries to place the transition on the schedule for COP30. But the minister has worked hard behind the scenes to make sure the pledge could be discussed at the conference apart from the official agenda.
The minister won over the nation's president, and he made mention repeatedly to the need to “move away from reliance on traditional energy” at the summit of world leaders that came before the conference, and at the opening of the event.
“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 root,” Marina Silva explained. “We acknowledge that it is challenging, and we cannot sell false hopes. Raising the subject is brave, and I wish [to see] this courage from everyone, from producing nations and using countries.”
The nation had not initiated the push for a phaseout, the minister clarified, because that had been done at COP28. Instead, it was enabling the talks to occur in line with what some nations desired. “We understand these subjects are delicate. We will give the chance to discuss it,” she added.
Time is insufficient at COP30 to create a roadmap, a process Silva said could take a number of years because numerous countries confronted complex issues around reliance on carbon-based energy, or wanted to use the revenue from selling fossil fuels to fund their economic growth.
“Brazil raises the subject, because it is simultaneously a producing nation and user,” the minister noted. “But the nation is different, because it, if it chooses to, need not depend on non-renewables. We have to understand that there are certain nations that depend on fossil fuels in their economic systems and don’t have simple solutions, and others where oil and gas are the basis of their economy.
“To be just is to be just to everyone, but the essential, primordial fairness is not being unfair to the Earth, because it is our home.”
If the pledge gains sufficient support, the summit could establish a forum in which the process of drawing up a roadmap to the phaseout could start.
This process would involve dialogue with all signatory countries to the UN climate treaty and guidelines for how the initiative would proceed, the minister said. “After we have standards, a governance structure can be drawn up; once we have a plan, and establish protections to be able to establish confidence in the process, I believe that with these components we can turn positive concepts into actions that are more defined, and more tangible.”
There is no guarantee that a proposal to start developing a plan would be accepted at COP30, although it may not need the official consent of the summit, which proceeds by consensus and can be hijacked by particular groups. Climate experts have indicated they think there could be backing for such a idea from about sixty nations, but there are thought to be at least 40 opposed. A total of 195 nations participating at the negotiations.
“In spite of being the root cause of global warming, carbon-based energy are about the most divisive subject there is within the UN negotiations, so to see a sizable coalition of countries publicly supporting a route to achieving global transition is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”
“Put simply, there’s no route to a planet where warming stays below 1.5C in which nations cannot to talk about fossil fuel phaseout.”
“We need this language for real in this discussion. It’s highly illogical that we talk about all topics but that when fossil fuels are the real challenge.”
Negotiations carried on on Saturday on four unresolved topics that have still not been incorporated into the formal schedule: trade, openness, finance and how to address the shortfall between the carbon reduction countries have planned and those required to keep to the 1.5C warming target.
The summit chair pledged a “note” that would cover these matters, after discussions – which have been going on since Monday – were unresolved. The official urged nations to adopt the “mutirão” spirit, meaning one of collaboration and constructive discussion.
Progress on other key issues – including adaptation to the effects of the climate emergency, the just transition for those impacted by the move to a green economy and how to build governance capabilities in less developed nations – carried on productively, the presidency reported.
Brazil’s lead representative said the detailed part of the summit proceedings was nearing completion, and the high-level phase – when ministers who have the authority to change their nations' stances join – was starting.
