Brazilian Environment Minister Urges Courage to Develop Fossil Energy Phase-out Roadmap at COP30

The climate chief, Marina Silva, has urged every country to show the courage needed to address the necessity of a worldwide transition away from fossil fuels, labeling the development of a detailed plan as an “ethical” response to the global warming emergency.

The minister emphasized, though, that participation in this process would be voluntary and “independently decided” for willing nations.

This issue stands as one of the most debated matters at the COP30 in Brazil, with nations split over whether and in what way such a strategy can be discussed. As the host, Brazil has maintained a carefully neutral position on what can be placed on the official schedule.

The official expressed approval for the potential of a plan, without explicitly committing Brazil to it. The minister remarked: “When we have a terrain that is very challenging, it is helpful that we have a guide. But the map does not force us to travel, or to advance.”

In an interview, the minister noted: “The map is an answer to our scientific understanding [of the climate crisis]. It is an ethical answer.”

Dozens of nations gathered in Belém for the UN climate summit, which is entering its next phase, are aiming to establish how a worldwide phaseout of fossil fuels could be implemented. They aim to build on a landmark agreement made two years ago at a previous UN summit to “transition away from non-renewable energy sources.”

The commitment had no a timetable or details on the way it could be realized, and even though it was adopted unanimously, some nations have since tried to back away from the promise. Efforts last year to elaborate on its practical meaning were stymied by resistance from oil-dependent nations at COP29.

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

For these reasons, Brazil has been cautious of demands by some nations to place the transition on the agenda for the current summit. But Silva has strived behind the scenes to make sure the pledge could be talked about at the summit apart from the formal program.

The minister convinced Brazil’s president, and he made public reference repeatedly to the need to “move away from reliance on fossil fuels” at the summit of world leaders that came before the conference, and at the start of the event.

“This is something that we know at a certain time had to be raised, because it is the sole way to face the problem from the source,” the minister said. “We recognise that it is not easy, and we cannot offer false hopes. Raising the topic is brave, and I wish [to see] this bravery from everyone, from producing nations and using countries.”

The nation had not initiated the call for a phaseout, the minister clarified, because that had been done at COP28. Rather, it was enabling the talks to take place in accordance with what some countries desired. “We know these topics are delicate. We will give the opportunity to talk about it,” the minister said.

There is not enough time at COP30 to create a roadmap, a task Silva said could take several years because numerous countries faced complicated challenges around reliance on fossil fuels, or aimed to use the proceeds from exporting fossil fuels to fund their development.

“The country raises the subject, because Brazil is simultaneously a producer and consumer,” the minister said. “But Brazil is unique, because Brazil, if it wants to, does not have to depend on non-renewables. We have to recognise that there are some that depend on carbon energy in their economic systems and lack easy solutions, and some where fossil fuels are the foundation of their economy.

“To be just is to be fair to everyone, but the essential, primordial justice is to avoid being unjust to the planet, because it is our shared home.”

If the pledge gains sufficient support, the summit could establish a forum in which the process of creating a roadmap to the phaseout could start.

This process would involve dialogue with every signatory nations to the UN climate treaty and guidelines for how the initiative would proceed, the minister explained. “After we have standards, a governance structure can be drawn up; once we have a strategy, and establish safeguards to be able to build trust in the system, I believe that with these components we can transform good ideas into steps that are clearer, and more tangible.”

It is uncertain that a proposal to start developing a plan would be accepted at COP30, although it may not need the formal approval of the conference, which proceeds by unanimous agreement and can be hijacked by particular groups. Climate experts have suggested they believe there could be backing for such a proposal from about 60 nations, but there are believed to be at least forty opposed. There are 195 nations represented at the talks.

“In spite of being the primary source of climate change, fossil fuels are about the most divisive topic there is within the international climate talks, so to see a chunky coalition of nations openly supporting a route to achieving global transition is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

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

“We need this language for actual in this discussion. It’s highly illogical that we discuss all topics but then when the main issue are the actual problem.”

Discussions carried on on Saturday on several unresolved topics that have not yet been incorporated into the official schedule: trade, openness, funding and how to tackle the shortfall between the emissions cuts nations have proposed and those required to keep to the 1.5-degree temperature limit.

A COP30 chair pledged a “document” that would cover these issues, after consultations – which have been going on since Monday – were inconclusive. He urged countries to adopt the “mutirão” attitude, referring to one of cooperation and constructive dialogue.

Progress on additional key issues – such as adaptation to the effects of the climate emergency, the fair shift for those impacted by the transition to a green economic system and how to strengthen institutional capacity in less developed nations – proceeded constructively, the host said.

The host nation's chief negotiator stated the technical part of the summit proceedings was approaching the end, and the political stage – when government leaders who have the power to change their countries’ stances arrive – was beginning.