🔗 Share this article

The climate chief, Marina Silva, has called on every country to demonstrate the courage needed to address the necessity of a worldwide fossil fuel phaseout, labeling the creation of a detailed plan as an “moral” answer to the global warming emergency.

She stressed, though, that involvement in this process would be voluntary and “independently decided” for willing governments.

The topic stands as one of the most contentious subjects at the COP30 in the host country, with countries divided over whether and in what way such a roadmap can be addressed. As the host, the nation has adopted a balanced stance on what can be placed on the formal agenda.

The official voiced approval for the potential of a plan, without directly committing Brazil to it. She remarked: “When we have a situation that is very challenging, it is good that we have a guide. But the map does not compel us to travel, or to advance.”

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

Scores of nations meeting in Belém for the global climate conference, which is entering its next phase, are seeking to determine how a global transition of fossil fuels could work. These nations hope to advance a historic resolution reached two years ago at COP28 to “move away from non-renewable energy sources.”

The pledge had no a schedule or details on how it could be realized, and although it was passed by all, some nations have later tried to back away from the pledge. Attempts last year to elaborate on its practical implications were blocked by resistance from petrostates at another UN summit.

As a result, there was no reference of the shift away from fossil fuels in the final agreement of COP29.

Because of this, the host has been cautious of calls by some countries to include the transition on the schedule for COP30. But Silva has strived behind the scenes to make sure the topic could be discussed at the conference outside the formal program.

She won over Brazil’s president, who gave mention repeatedly to the need to “move away from dependence on fossil fuels” at the summit of world leaders that came before the conference, and at the start of the summit.

“This is a matter that we know at a certain time had to be put forward, because it is the sole way to address the problem from the source,” Marina Silva said. “We acknowledge that it is not easy, and we cannot offer unrealistic expectations. Raising the subject is courageous, and I hope [to see] this bravery from everyone, from producing nations and consumers.”

Brazil had not initiated the push for a transition, the minister said, because that had been done at the earlier summit. Rather, it was allowing the talks to take place in line with what some countries wished. “We understand these topics are sensitive. We will provide the opportunity to discuss it,” the minister added.

Time is insufficient at the summit to create a detailed plan, a process Silva called could take several years because numerous countries faced complicated issues around reliance on fossil fuels, or aimed to use the revenue from exporting fossil fuels to finance their economic growth.

“The country brings up the subject, because it is both a producer and consumer,” she noted. “But the nation is different, because Brazil, if it chooses to, does not have to depend on fossil fuels. We have to recognise that there are certain nations that rely on carbon energy in their economies and don’t have simple alternatives, and others where oil and gas are the basis of their economic structure.

“To be fair is to be just to all, but the essential, primordial justice is not being unfair to the planet, because it is our shared home.”

Should the proposal gains sufficient support, the summit could set up a forum in which the process of drawing up a strategy to the transition could start.

The process would require dialogue with all participating nations to the UN climate treaty and guidelines for how the process would proceed, Silva said. “After we have standards, a governance structure can be drawn up; after we have a strategy, and create protections to be able to establish confidence in the process, I am confident that with these elements we can transform positive concepts into actions that are clearer, and more tangible.”

There is no guarantee that a proposal to begin developing a plan would win approval at COP30, even if it may not need the formal consent of the conference, which proceeds by consensus and can be hijacked by special interests. COP analysts have indicated they think there could be support for such a idea from about sixty countries, but there are believed to be at least forty against. A total of one hundred ninety-five countries participating at the negotiations.

“In spite of being the primary source of global warming, carbon-based energy are about the most contentious topic there is within the international climate talks, so to see a chunky coalition of nations publicly backing a route to realizing global transition is in itself highly significant.”

“Put simply, there’s no path to a world where temperature rise stays below 1.5 degrees in which countries aren’t able to discuss ending fossil fuel use.”

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

Negotiations continued on the weekend on several unresolved topics that have still not been included into the formal agenda: trade, openness, finance and how to tackle the gap between the emissions cuts countries have planned and those needed to keep to the 1.5C temperature target.

The summit president promised a “document” that would cover these issues, after consultations – which have been underway since Monday – were inconclusive. The official urged countries to adopt the “mutirão” attitude, meaning one of collaboration and positive dialogue.

Work on other substantive topics – including adjustment to the impacts of the climate crisis, the fair shift for those impacted by the move to a green economic system and how to build governance capabilities in less developed nations – proceeded productively, the presidency reported.

The host nation's chief negotiator said the detailed phase of the COP proceedings was approaching completion, and the high-level phase – when government leaders who have the authority to alter their countries’ positions arrive – was beginning.