🔗 Share this article

Brazil’s climate chief, the minister, has called on every country to show the courage needed to address the imperative of a worldwide transition away from fossil fuels, describing the development of a roadmap as an “moral” answer to the global warming emergency.

She stressed, however, that involvement in this endeavor would be voluntary and “self-determined” for willing governments.

The topic stands as one of the most debated matters at the UN climate summit in Brazil, with countries split over if and in what way such a strategy can be addressed. As the host, Brazil has adopted a balanced stance on what can be included on the official schedule.

Silva expressed approval for the potential of a plan, though not explicitly pledging Brazil to it. The minister remarked: “When we have a situation that is quite grim, it is good that we have a guide. But the map does not force us to travel, or to advance.”

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

Dozens of nations meeting in Belém for the global climate conference, which is starting its second week, are seeking to determine how a global transition of fossil fuels could work. These nations aim to build on a historic resolution made two years ago at a previous UN summit to “transition away from fossil fuels.”

That commitment lacked a timetable or specifics on how it could be realized, and even though it was passed unanimously, several countries have since attempted to back away from the promise. Attempts last year to expand on its real-world meaning were blocked by opposition from oil-dependent nations at COP29.

As a result, there was no mention of the transition away from carbon fuels in the outcome of COP29.

For these reasons, the host has been wary of demands by certain nations to include the transition on the schedule for COP30. But the minister has strived behind the scenes to make sure the topic could be discussed at the conference apart from the official program.

She won over the nation's leader, and he made mention repeatedly to the need to “shift from reliance on fossil fuels” at the global leaders' meeting that came before COP30, and at the start of the event.

“The issue is something that we understand at a certain time had to be put forward, because it is the sole way to face the issue from the source,” the minister explained. “We recognise that it is not easy, and we cannot offer unrealistic expectations. Bringing up the subject is courageous, and I hope [to see] this courage from everyone, from producers and consumers.”

The nation had not started the push for a transition, the minister clarified, because that had been initiated at COP28. Rather, it was enabling the talks to take place in accordance with what certain nations wished. “We know these subjects are sensitive. We will give the opportunity to talk about it,” she added.

Time is insufficient at the summit to draw up a roadmap, a process the minister called could take a number of years because numerous countries confronted complex issues around dependence on fossil fuels, or wanted to use the proceeds from selling oil and gas to finance their development.

“The country brings up the subject, because it is simultaneously a producer and consumer,” the minister said. “But Brazil is different, because Brazil, if it chooses to, does not have to rely on fossil fuels. We have to recognise that there are some that rely on carbon energy in their economies and lack simple alternatives, and others where fossil fuels are the basis of their economy.

“To be just is to be fair to all, but the fundamental, primordial justice is to avoid being unfair to the planet, because it is our shared home.”

If the pledge receives enough backing, COP30 could set up a forum in which the process of creating a strategy to the transition could begin.

This process would require dialogue with every signatory nations to the UN framework convention on climate change and guidelines for how the initiative would proceed, the minister said. “Once we have criteria, a management framework can be drawn up; after we have a strategy, and establish protections to be able to build trust in the process, I believe that with these components we can turn positive concepts into steps that are clearer, and more tangible.”

It is uncertain that a proposal to begin developing a plan would win approval at COP30, although it does not require the official approval of the conference, which operates by unanimous agreement and can be disrupted by special interests. COP experts have indicated they believe there could be support for such a idea from about 60 countries, but there are thought to be at least forty against. There are 195 nations represented at the negotiations.

“In spite of being the primary source of global warming, carbon-based energy are about the most contentious subject there is within the international climate talks, so to see a sizable group of countries openly supporting a route to realizing global transition is in itself highly significant.”

“In simple terms, there’s no route to a planet where warming remains below 1.5 degrees in which countries aren’t able to talk about ending fossil fuel use.”

“We need this wording for real in this discussion. It’s quite stupid that we talk about all topics but that when fossil fuels are the real challenge.”

Discussions continued on Saturday on four outstanding issues that have still not been incorporated into the official schedule: commerce, transparency, finance and how to address the shortfall between the carbon reduction nations have planned and those needed to hold to the 1.5C temperature limit.

A COP30 chair pledged a “note” that would address these matters, after consultations – which have been underway since the start of the week – were inconclusive. He called on countries to adopt the “mutirão” attitude, meaning one of cooperation and constructive dialogue.

Work on other substantive issues – such as adjustment to the impacts of the climate crisis, the fair shift for those impacted by the move to a low-carbon economic system and how to build governance capabilities in less developed nations – carried on productively, the presidency said.

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