Brazilian Environment Minister Urges Courage to Create Fossil Fuel Phaseout Roadmap at COP30

The climate chief, Marina Silva, has called on all nations to demonstrate the courage needed to confront the necessity of a global fossil fuel phaseout, labeling the development of a detailed plan as an “moral” answer to the global warming emergency.

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

This issue remains one of the most debated matters at the UN climate summit in Brazil, with countries split over if and how such a roadmap can be discussed. As the host, Brazil has maintained a carefully neutral position on which items can be placed on the formal schedule.

The official expressed support for the possibility of a plan, though not directly pledging the country to it. She remarked: “In times we have a situation that is quite grim, it is good that we have a guide. But the guide does not compel us to travel, or to climb.”

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

Dozens of nations meeting in the host city for the UN climate summit, which is entering its second week, are seeking to determine how a global phaseout of oil, gas, and coal could be implemented. These nations aim to advance a landmark resolution made two years ago at COP28 to “transition away from fossil fuels.”

The pledge had no a schedule or specifics on how it could be achieved, and even though it was passed by all, some countries have since tried to disavow the pledge. Attempts last year to elaborate on its real-world meaning were blocked by opposition from oil-dependent nations at COP29.

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

Because of this, Brazil has been wary of calls by some nations to place the transition on the agenda for COP30. But the minister has worked hard behind the scenes to ensure the topic could be discussed at the summit outside the official agenda.

The minister won over the nation's leader, and he made mention repeatedly to the need to “move away from reliance on traditional energy” at the summit of world leaders that preceded the conference, and at the opening of the summit.

“The issue is a matter that we understand at a certain time had to be put forward, because it is the only way to face the problem from the root,” Marina Silva explained. “We recognise that it is not easy, and we cannot sell false hopes. Bringing up the subject is courageous, and I hope [to see] this courage from everyone, from producing nations and using countries.”

Brazil had not started the push for a phaseout, the minister clarified, because that had been initiated at COP28. 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,” she added.

There is not enough time at the summit to create a roadmap, a process the minister called could take a number of years because many countries faced complicated challenges around dependence on fossil fuels, or aimed to use the revenue from exporting fossil fuels to fund their development.

“The country raises the topic, because Brazil is simultaneously a producer and consumer,” the minister noted. “But the nation is unique, because Brazil, if it wants to, does not have to rely on fossil fuels. We have to recognise that there are some that depend on carbon energy in their economic systems and lack easy alternatives, and some where fossil fuels are the foundation of their economic structure.

“To be fair is to be fair to everyone, but the essential, basic justice is to avoid being unjust to the Earth, because it is our home.”

If the proposal gains enough support, the summit could establish a forum in which the process of drawing up a strategy to the transition could start.

This process would require discussions with all signatory countries to the UN climate treaty and guidelines for how the process would proceed, the minister said. “After we have standards, a governance structure can be developed; after we have a strategy, and establish protections to be able to build trust in the process, I believe that with these elements we can transform positive concepts into actions that are more defined, and more concrete.”

There is no guarantee that a proposal to start developing a roadmap would be accepted at the conference, even if it does not require the official consent of the summit, which proceeds by unanimous agreement and can be disrupted by particular groups. COP analysts have indicated they believe there could be backing for such a idea from about sixty nations, but there are believed to be at least 40 against. A total of one hundred ninety-five nations represented at the talks.

“Despite being the primary source of climate change, carbon-based energy are about the most divisive topic there is within the UN negotiations, so to see a sizable group of nations publicly supporting a path to achieving worldwide phaseout is in itself highly significant.”

“In simple terms, there’s no path to a world where temperature rise remains below 1.5 degrees in which countries cannot to discuss ending fossil fuel use.”

“We require this wording for real in this discussion. It’s highly illogical that we talk about all topics but then when the main issue are the actual challenge.”

Negotiations continued on the weekend on several outstanding topics that have still not been included into the official agenda: commerce, openness, funding and how to address the gap between the emissions cuts nations have proposed and those required to hold to the 1.5C temperature target.

The summit chair promised a “note” that would address these issues, after discussions – which have been underway since Monday – were unresolved. He called on nations to adopt the “mutirão” attitude, meaning one of collaboration and constructive discussion.

Progress on additional substantive topics – 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 build institutional capacity in less developed nations – proceeded constructively, the host said.

The host nation's chief negotiator said the detailed phase of the COP process was nearing completion, and the high-level phase – when government leaders who have the authority to change their countries’ stances join – was beginning.