🔗 Share this article

Brazil’s environment minister, the minister, has urged every country to demonstrate the bravery needed to address the imperative of a worldwide fossil fuel phaseout, labeling the creation of a roadmap as an “moral” response to the climate crisis.

She stressed, though, 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 COP30 in the host country, with nations divided over whether and how such a roadmap can be addressed. As the host, Brazil has adopted a balanced position on what can be included on the official agenda.

Silva expressed support for the possibility of a plan, though not directly pledging the country to it. She stated: “When we have a situation that is quite grim, it is helpful that we have a guide. But the map does not compel us to travel, or to advance.”

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

Scores of nations meeting in Belém for the UN climate summit, which is entering its second week, are seeking to establish how a global phaseout of fossil fuels could work. They hope to build on a historic agreement reached two years ago at a previous UN summit to “move away from non-renewable energy sources.”

The pledge had no a schedule or specifics on the way it could be achieved, and even though it was adopted unanimously, several countries have since attempted to back away from the pledge. Efforts last year to expand on its practical implications were blocked by resistance from petrostates at COP29.

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

For these reasons, the host has been wary of demands by certain nations to include the phaseout on the schedule for COP30. But the minister has worked hard in private to make sure the pledge could be talked about at the summit outside the formal program.

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

“The issue is a matter that we understand at a certain time had to be raised, because it is the only way to face the problem from the source,” Marina Silva explained. “We acknowledge that it is not easy, and we must not offer false hopes. Bringing up the topic is brave, and I hope [to see] this courage from everyone, from producing nations and consumers.”

Brazil had not started the call for a transition, the minister clarified, because that had been done at COP28. Instead, it was allowing the discussions to occur in accordance with what certain countries desired. “We understand these subjects are sensitive. We will give the chance to discuss it,” she added.

Time is insufficient at the summit to create a detailed plan, a task the minister said could take several years because many nations faced complex challenges around dependence on carbon-based energy, or wanted to use the proceeds from exporting fossil fuels to finance their development.

“The country brings up the subject, because it is both a producing nation and user,” the minister said. “But Brazil is unique, because it, if it chooses to, need not rely on fossil fuels. We have to understand that there are some that rely on carbon energy in their economic systems and don’t have easy alternatives, and some where oil and gas are the foundation of their economy.

“To be just is to be fair to all, but the fundamental, basic justice is not being unjust to the Earth, because it is our shared home.”

If the pledge gains sufficient support, COP30 could establish a forum in which the process of creating a strategy to the phaseout could begin.

The process would require dialogue with all participating nations to the UN framework convention on climate change and guidelines for how the process would unfold, Silva said. “After we have criteria, a governance structure can be developed; after we have a plan, and create protections to be able to build confidence in the system, I believe that with these elements we can transform good ideas into steps that are more defined, and more concrete.”

It is uncertain that a suggestion to begin drawing up a roadmap would win approval at COP30, although it may not need the official approval of the summit, which operates by consensus and can be hijacked by particular groups. COP experts have indicated they believe there could be support for such a idea from about sixty countries, but there are thought to be at least 40 against. There are 195 nations represented at the talks.

“Despite being the primary source of global warming, carbon-based energy are about the most divisive topic there is within the UN negotiations, so to see a chunky coalition of countries openly supporting a path to achieving global phaseout is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

“In simple terms, there’s no route to a planet where warming stays below 1.5C in which nations cannot to discuss fossil fuel phaseout.”

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

Negotiations carried on on Saturday on four unresolved topics that have not yet been incorporated into the formal schedule: commerce, transparency, funding and how to tackle the gap between the emissions cuts nations have planned and those needed to hold to the 1.5C warming limit.

The summit president promised a “note” that would address these issues, after consultations – which have been underway since Monday – were inconclusive. He urged countries to embrace the “mutirão” attitude, meaning one of cooperation and constructive dialogue.

Progress on additional key issues – such as adaptation to the effects of the climate crisis, the just transition for those affected by the move to a low-carbon economy and how to strengthen governance capabilities in less developed nations – proceeded constructively, the host reported.

The host nation's chief negotiator stated the technical phase of the summit process was approaching completion, and the political phase – when ministers who have the power to alter their countries’ positions arrive – was beginning.