🔗 Share this article

Brazil’s environment minister, Marina Silva, has called on every country to demonstrate the courage needed to address the imperative of a worldwide fossil fuel phaseout, describing the development of a detailed plan as an “moral” response to the climate crisis.

The minister stressed, though, that participation in this endeavor would be voluntary and “self-determined” for willing governments.

The topic remains one of the most contentious subjects at the COP30 in Brazil, with countries split over if and in what way such a strategy can be discussed. Hosting the event, the nation has adopted a carefully neutral position on what can be placed on the official agenda.

The official voiced approval for the possibility of a roadmap, without explicitly committing the country to it. She stated: “When we have a terrain that is quite grim, it is helpful that we have a guide. But the map does not force us to travel, or to climb.”

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

Dozens of countries gathered in the host city for the UN climate summit, which is starting its next phase, are aiming to establish how a worldwide transition of fossil fuels could be implemented. These nations aim to advance a landmark agreement reached two years ago at a previous UN summit to “transition away from fossil fuels.”

The commitment had no a timetable or details on how it could be achieved, and even though it was adopted unanimously, some countries have since tried to back away from the promise. Attempts last year to expand on its real-world implications were stymied by opposition from petrostates at COP29.

Consequently, there was no reference of the transition away from fossil fuels in the final agreement of COP29.

For these reasons, Brazil has been cautious of demands by certain nations to include the transition on the agenda for the current summit. But Silva has worked hard in private to make sure the pledge could be talked about at the summit apart from the official agenda.

She convinced the nation's president, and he made mention repeatedly to the need to “shift from reliance on fossil fuels” at the summit of world leaders that came before the conference, and at the start of the summit.

“The issue is a matter that we know at some point had to be put forward, because it is the sole way to face the problem from the root,” Marina Silva said. “We acknowledge that it is challenging, and we must not sell unrealistic expectations. Raising the subject is brave, and I wish [to see] this courage from all, from producers and using countries.”

Brazil had not started the push for a phaseout, the minister clarified, because that had been initiated at the earlier summit. Instead, it was allowing the discussions to take place in accordance with what certain countries desired. “We know these topics are delicate. We will provide the chance to discuss it,” the minister added.

There is not enough time at COP30 to create a detailed plan, a process the minister said could take a number of years because numerous countries faced complicated issues around dependence on fossil fuels, or aimed to use the revenue from selling fossil fuels to fund their economic growth.

“The country raises the topic, because it is both a producer and consumer,” 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 depend on carbon energy in their economic systems and don’t have easy solutions, and others where oil and gas are the foundation of their economy.

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

Should the pledge receives enough support, the summit could set up a platform in which the work of creating a roadmap to the transition could start.

The process would require discussions with all participating nations to the UN framework convention on climate change and guidelines for how the initiative would unfold, Silva explained. “After we have standards, a management framework can be developed; once we have a strategy, and create protections to be able to establish confidence in the process, I believe that with these elements we can transform positive concepts into steps that are clearer, and more tangible.”

It is uncertain that a proposal to begin drawing up a plan would win approval at the conference, although it may not need the formal consent of the conference, which operates by consensus and can be hijacked by special interests. Climate experts have indicated they think there could be support for such a idea from about 60 countries, but there are thought to be at least forty against. A total of one hundred ninety-five nations participating at the talks.

“Despite being the primary source of global warming, fossil fuels are about the most contentious subject there is within the international climate talks, so to see a chunky group of nations publicly supporting a route to realizing worldwide phaseout is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

“In simple terms, there’s no route to a world where warming remains below 1.5C in which countries cannot to talk about fossil fuel phaseout.”

“We need this language for real in this discussion. It’s quite stupid that we discuss everything but that when fossil fuels are the real challenge.”

Discussions continued on Saturday on four outstanding issues that have not yet been included into the official agenda: commerce, openness, finance and how to address the shortfall between the emissions cuts countries have proposed and those needed to keep to the 1.5C warming target.

The COP30 chair promised a “document” that would cover these issues, after consultations – which have been going on since Monday – were unresolved. He called on nations to adopt the “mutirão” spirit, meaning one of cooperation and constructive discussion.

Work on other substantive topics – including adjustment to the impacts of the climate emergency, the fair shift for those affected by the move to a low-carbon economic system and how to build governance capabilities in developing countries – carried on constructively, the host reported.

Brazil’s lead representative said the technical phase of the COP proceedings was nearing completion, and the political phase – when ministers who have the power to alter their countries’ positions join – was starting.