Brazil's Minister Calls for Boldness to Establish Fossil Energy Phaseout Roadmap at UN Climate Summit

Brazil’s environment minister, Marina Silva, has urged all nations to demonstrate the courage needed to address the imperative of a worldwide fossil fuel phaseout, labeling the development of a roadmap as an “ethical” answer to the global warming emergency.

The minister emphasized, though, that involvement in this endeavor would be optional and “independently decided” for interested governments.

This issue remains one of the most contentious subjects at the COP30 in the host country, with countries split over whether and in what way such a strategy can be discussed. As the host, Brazil has adopted a carefully neutral position on what can be included on the official agenda.

The official voiced support for the potential of a roadmap, though not explicitly committing the country to it. The minister remarked: “In times we have a situation that is quite grim, it is good that we have a guide. But the guide does not force us to proceed, or to climb.”

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

Scores of nations gathered in the host city for the UN climate summit, which is entering its next phase, are seeking to establish how a global phaseout of oil, gas, and coal could work. They hope to advance a landmark resolution made two years ago at COP28 to “transition away from fossil fuels.”

That pledge lacked a timetable or specifics on the way it could be realized, and even though it was passed by all, several nations have later attempted to disavow the pledge. Efforts last year to elaborate on its real-world meaning were stymied by resistance from oil-dependent nations at COP29.

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

Because of this, the host has been cautious of demands by certain countries to include the phaseout on the agenda for COP30. But Silva has worked hard behind the scenes to make sure the topic could be discussed at the summit apart from the official agenda.

The minister convinced Brazil’s president, and he made mention three times to the need to “move away 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 something that we understand at some point had to be put forward, because it is the sole way to address the issue from the root,” Marina Silva said. “We acknowledge that it is challenging, and we cannot sell false hopes. Bringing up the topic is courageous, and I wish [to see] this courage from all, from producing nations and using countries.”

Brazil had not initiated the push for a phaseout, she clarified, because that had been done at COP28. Rather, it was allowing the talks to occur in accordance with what certain nations wished. “We understand these subjects are sensitive. We will provide the opportunity to discuss it,” she added.

Time is insufficient at the summit to draw up a detailed plan, a process Silva said could take several years because many countries faced complex challenges around dependence on carbon-based energy, or aimed to use the proceeds from exporting fossil fuels to fund their economic growth.

“Brazil brings up the topic, because it is simultaneously a producing nation and user,” the minister noted. “But Brazil is different, because Brazil, if it wants to, does not have to rely on non-renewables. We have to understand that there are certain nations that rely on carbon energy in their economies and don’t have simple solutions, and others where fossil fuels are the foundation of their economy.

“To be just is to be just to everyone, but the essential, basic fairness is to avoid being unfair to the planet, because it is our shared home.”

Should the proposal gains sufficient backing, the summit could set up a platform in which the work of creating a strategy to the phaseout could start.

This process would require discussions with every participating countries to the UN climate treaty and guidelines for how the process would proceed, the minister explained. “Once we have standards, a management framework can be developed; after we have a strategy, and establish safeguards to be able to establish trust in the process, I am confident that with these components we can transform positive concepts into actions that are more defined, and more tangible.”

It is uncertain that a suggestion to begin developing a plan would be accepted at COP30, even if it may not need the official consent of the conference, which operates by consensus and can be hijacked by particular groups. COP experts have suggested they believe there could be support for such a idea from about 60 countries, but there are believed to be at least forty opposed. There are one hundred ninety-five nations represented at the negotiations.

“Despite being the primary source of global warming, carbon-based energy are about the most divisive topic there is within the international climate talks, so to see a chunky group of nations openly backing a route to realizing worldwide transition is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

“Put simply, there’s no route to a planet where temperature rise stays below 1.5 degrees in which countries cannot to discuss ending fossil fuel use.”

“We need this wording for real in this conversation. It’s quite stupid that we talk about everything but that when fossil fuels are the actual problem.”

Negotiations continued on the weekend on four outstanding issues that have not yet been incorporated into the formal schedule: commerce, transparency, finance and how to address the gap between the carbon reduction countries have proposed and those needed to hold to the 1.5-degree temperature target.

A COP30 president promised a “document” that would cover these matters, after consultations – which have been going on since the start of the week – were inconclusive. He called on nations to embrace the “mutirão” attitude, meaning one of collaboration and constructive discussion.

Progress on other substantive issues – including adaptation to the effects of the climate crisis, the just transition for those affected by the move to a green economy and how to build institutional capacity in less developed nations – proceeded constructively, the host said.

The host nation's lead representative stated the technical phase of the COP process was nearing completion, and the high-level phase – when government leaders who have the power to change their nations' positions arrive – was starting.