Brazil's Minister Calls for Boldness to Create Fossil Energy Phase-out Plan at COP30

The environment minister, Marina Silva, has urged all nations to demonstrate the courage needed to confront the imperative of a worldwide transition away from fossil fuels, labeling the creation of a detailed plan as an “moral” response to the climate crisis.

The minister emphasized, however, that involvement in this process would be optional and “self-determined” for interested nations.

The topic stands as one of the most contentious subjects at the UN climate summit in Brazil, with nations divided over whether and how such a roadmap can be addressed. Hosting the event, the nation has adopted a carefully neutral position on what can be included on the formal agenda.

Silva expressed approval for the possibility of a roadmap, though not directly pledging the country to it. She remarked: “In times we have a situation that is very challenging, it is helpful that we have a guide. But the guide does not force us to proceed, or to advance.”

In an interview, she noted: “The map is an response to our scientific understanding [of the climate crisis]. It is an moral response.”

Scores of nations meeting in Belém for the UN climate summit, which is starting its next phase, are seeking to establish how a global transition of oil, gas, and coal could be implemented. These nations aim to build on a landmark resolution reached two years ago at a previous UN summit to “transition away from fossil fuels.”

The pledge lacked a timetable or specifics on how it could be realized, and although it was adopted unanimously, some nations have since tried to back away from the pledge. Attempts last year to elaborate on its real-world implications were stymied by resistance from petrostates at COP29.

Consequently, there was no mention of the shift away from carbon fuels in the outcome of that conference.

For these reasons, the host has been wary of demands by certain countries to include the transition on the schedule for the current summit. But the minister has strived in private to ensure the topic could be talked about at the conference outside the official program.

She convinced the nation's leader, and he gave public reference three times to the need to “shift from dependence on traditional energy” at the global leaders' meeting that came before the conference, and at the opening of the summit.

“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 source,” the minister explained. “We acknowledge that it is challenging, and we must not offer false hopes. Raising the subject is brave, and I wish [to see] this bravery from all, from producing nations and consumers.”

Brazil had not initiated the call for a transition, she said, because that had been initiated at COP28. Rather, it was enabling the discussions to take place in accordance with what some countries desired. “We understand these topics are delicate. We will provide the opportunity to discuss it,” the minister said.

Time is insufficient at COP30 to draw up a roadmap, a process the minister said could take a number of years because numerous nations confronted complicated challenges around reliance on fossil fuels, or wanted to use the proceeds from exporting oil and gas to fund their economic growth.

“Brazil brings up the topic, because it is simultaneously a producer and consumer,” the minister noted. “But Brazil is unique, because it, if it wants to, does not have to depend on fossil fuels. We have to recognise that there are some that depend on carbon energy in their economic systems and lack easy solutions, and others where fossil fuels 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 planet, because it is our home.”

If the proposal receives enough backing, COP30 could establish a platform in which the work of drawing up a strategy to the transition could begin.

The process would involve dialogue with every participating countries to the UN climate treaty and criteria for how the initiative would unfold, Silva said. “After we have criteria, a management framework can be drawn up; once we have a strategy, and create protections to be able to build confidence in the process, I believe that with these components we can transform positive concepts into steps that are more defined, and more concrete.”

There is no guarantee that a proposal to begin drawing up a roadmap would be accepted at the conference, although it may not need the official consent of the conference, which operates by consensus and can be disrupted by special interests. Climate experts have suggested they think there could be backing for such a idea from about 60 countries, but there are thought to be at least forty against. There are one hundred ninety-five nations participating at the talks.

“In spite of being the root cause of global warming, fossil fuels are about the most divisive topic there is within the international climate talks, so to see a chunky coalition of nations publicly supporting a route to achieving global phaseout is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

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

“We need this language for actual in this conversation. It’s highly illogical that we talk about all topics but that when the main issue are the actual challenge.”

Negotiations continued on the weekend on four outstanding issues that have still not been included into the formal agenda: trade, openness, funding and how to address the shortfall between the emissions cuts countries have proposed and those needed to keep to the 1.5C temperature limit.

The COP30 chair promised a “note” that would cover these issues, after consultations – which have been going on since Monday – were inconclusive. He urged countries to adopt the “mutirão” attitude, meaning one of cooperation and positive dialogue.

Work on additional substantive issues – including adaptation to the impacts of the climate crisis, the fair shift for those affected by the move to a green economy and how to strengthen governance capabilities in developing countries – carried on constructively, the presidency said.

Brazil’s lead representative stated the technical phase of the summit proceedings was approaching completion, and the political phase – when government leaders who have the power to change their countries’ positions arrive – was beginning.