🔗 Share this article

The environment minister, Marina Silva, has called on all nations to show the bravery needed to address the imperative of a global transition away from fossil fuels, describing the creation of a roadmap as an “moral” answer to the climate crisis.

The minister emphasized, however, that involvement in this process would be voluntary and “independently decided” for willing governments.

The topic remains one of the most debated subjects at the COP30 in Brazil, with countries split over if and in what way such a strategy can be discussed. As the host, the nation has adopted a carefully neutral stance on what can be placed on the formal agenda.

The official voiced support for the possibility of a roadmap, though not directly pledging the country to it. She remarked: “When we have a terrain that is quite grim, it is helpful that we have a map. 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 understanding [of the climate crisis]. It is an ethical answer.”

Dozens of countries gathered in Belém for the UN climate summit, which is entering its next phase, are aiming to determine how a worldwide phaseout of oil, gas, and coal could be implemented. They aim to advance a historic agreement made two years ago at a previous UN summit to “transition away from non-renewable energy sources.”

That pledge had no a schedule or details on the way it could be achieved, and even though it was adopted unanimously, several countries have later attempted to back away from the promise. Attempts last year to elaborate on its practical implications were stymied by resistance from oil-dependent nations at another UN summit.

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

Because of this, Brazil has been cautious of calls by certain countries to place the transition on the agenda for COP30. But Silva has strived behind the scenes to make sure the topic could be talked about at the summit apart from the official program.

She convinced Brazil’s president, and he gave public reference three times to the need to “shift from dependence on traditional energy” at the summit of world leaders that came before the conference, and at the opening of the summit.

“This is a matter that we understand at a certain time had to be raised, because it is the sole way to address the issue from the source,” the minister said. “We acknowledge that it is challenging, and we must not offer false hopes. Raising the topic is courageous, and I wish [to see] this courage from everyone, from producers and using countries.”

Brazil had not initiated the call for a phaseout, the minister clarified, because that had been initiated at the earlier summit. Rather, it was allowing the discussions to take place in line with what certain nations desired. “We understand these subjects are delicate. We will provide the opportunity to talk about it,” the minister said.

There is not enough time at COP30 to draw up a roadmap, a process Silva called could take several years because many countries confronted complicated issues around dependence on carbon-based energy, or aimed to use the revenue from selling oil and gas to fund their development.

“Brazil brings up the topic, because it is both a producer and user,” she said. “But the nation is unique, because Brazil, if it chooses to, need not rely on non-renewables. We have to understand that there are some that depend on carbon energy in their economic systems and don’t have simple solutions, and some where oil and gas are the foundation of their economy.

“To be just is to be just to everyone, but the fundamental, primordial fairness is to avoid being unfair to the Earth, because it is our home.”

Should the proposal gains sufficient backing, COP30 could establish a forum in which the process of drawing up a roadmap to the transition could start.

This process would involve dialogue with all participating countries to the UN framework convention on climate change and criteria for how the initiative would proceed, the minister explained. “After we have standards, a management framework can be drawn up; after we have a strategy, and create protections to be able to build confidence in the system, I am confident that with these elements we can transform positive concepts into steps that are more defined, and more tangible.”

It is uncertain that a proposal to begin drawing up a roadmap would win approval at COP30, although it does not require the formal consent of the conference, which operates by unanimous agreement and can be hijacked by particular groups. Climate analysts have indicated they think there could be support for such a proposal from about sixty countries, but there are thought to be at least 40 against. A total of 195 countries participating at the negotiations.

“In spite of being the root cause of global warming, fossil fuels are about the most contentious topic there is within the international climate talks, so to see a chunky coalition of nations openly supporting a path to achieving global transition is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

“In simple terms, there’s no route to a planet where temperature rise remains below 1.5 degrees in which countries aren’t able to discuss fossil fuel phaseout.”

“We need this wording for actual in this discussion. It’s quite stupid that we talk about everything but then when the main issue are the real challenge.”

Negotiations carried on on the weekend on four unresolved topics that have not yet been included into the formal schedule: trade, openness, funding and how to address the shortfall between the carbon reduction countries have planned and those needed to keep to the 1.5C temperature target.

A summit chair pledged a “note” that would cover these issues, after consultations – which have been underway since the start of the week – were inconclusive. He called on countries to embrace the “mutirão” attitude, meaning one of cooperation and constructive discussion.

Progress on other key issues – such as adjustment to the impacts of the climate crisis, the just transition for those affected by the move to a green economy and how to strengthen governance capabilities in less developed nations – carried on constructively, the host reported.

The host nation's lead representative said the detailed phase of the COP process was approaching completion, and the political phase – when government leaders who have the power to alter their nations' positions join – was beginning.