🔗 Share this article

The climate chief, the minister, has called on all nations to show the courage needed to address the necessity of a worldwide transition away from fossil fuels, labeling the development of a detailed plan as an “moral” response to the global warming emergency.

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

This issue remains one of the most contentious subjects at the UN climate summit in the host country, with nations split over whether and in what way such a roadmap can be discussed. Hosting the event, the nation has maintained a balanced stance on what can be placed on the formal agenda.

Silva expressed support for the potential of a plan, without directly committing the country to it. She stated: “In times we have a terrain that is very challenging, it is helpful that we have a map. But the guide does not force us to proceed, or to climb.”

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

Dozens of countries gathered in Belém for the global climate conference, which is starting its second week, are seeking to establish how a worldwide transition of fossil fuels could work. These nations hope to advance a landmark resolution reached two years ago at a previous UN summit to “move away from fossil fuels.”

That commitment had no a schedule or specifics on how it could be realized, and even though it was passed by all, several nations have since tried to back away from the promise. Efforts last year to elaborate on its real-world implications were stymied by resistance from oil-dependent nations at COP29.

Consequently, there was no reference of the shift away from carbon fuels in the outcome of that conference.

Because of this, Brazil has been wary of calls by certain nations to include the transition on the agenda for COP30. But Silva has worked hard in private to ensure the topic could be discussed at the summit outside the formal program.

She won over Brazil’s leader, and he gave mention three times to the need to “move away from reliance on traditional energy” at the summit of world leaders that preceded COP30, and at the opening of the summit.

“This is a matter that we know at some point had to be put forward, because it is the sole way to address the issue from the root,” Marina Silva explained. “We recognise that it is not easy, and we cannot sell unrealistic expectations. Bringing up the topic is courageous, and I hope [to see] this bravery from all, from producers and consumers.”

Brazil had not started the call for a transition, the minister clarified, because that had been initiated at the earlier summit. Instead, it was enabling the talks to take place in line with what some nations desired. “We understand these topics are delicate. We will give the opportunity to discuss it,” she said.

There is not enough time at the summit to draw up a roadmap, a process the minister said could take a number of years because numerous countries faced complex issues around reliance on fossil fuels, or wanted to use the proceeds from exporting oil and gas to finance their development.

“The country raises the topic, because it is both a producing nation and consumer,” she said. “But Brazil is unique, because Brazil, if it chooses to, does not have to rely on non-renewables. We have to understand that there are certain nations that rely on fossil fuels in their economic systems and don’t have easy alternatives, and some where oil and gas are the foundation of their economy.

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

Should the proposal gains sufficient support, the summit could establish a forum in which the work of creating a strategy to the transition could start.

This process would involve discussions with every participating nations to the UN framework convention on climate change and guidelines for how the process would unfold, Silva explained. “After we have criteria, a management framework can be developed; after we have a plan, and create protections to be able to build confidence in the process, I believe that with these elements we can transform good ideas 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 consensus and can be disrupted by particular groups. COP analysts have suggested they believe there could be support for such a idea from about sixty countries, but there are thought to be at least 40 against. There are 195 nations represented at the negotiations.

“In spite of being the root cause of climate change, carbon-based energy are about the most contentious topic there is within the international climate talks, so to see a sizable group of countries openly supporting a path to realizing global transition is in itself highly significant.”

“Put simply, there’s no route to a world where temperature rise remains below 1.5C in which countries aren’t able to discuss ending fossil fuel use.”

“We need this wording for real in this conversation. It’s highly illogical that we talk about all topics but then when the main issue are the real problem.”

Negotiations carried on on the weekend on several outstanding topics that have not yet been incorporated into the official agenda: commerce, openness, finance and how to address the shortfall between the carbon reduction countries have proposed and those required to hold to the 1.5C temperature limit.

A COP30 chair pledged a “note” that would cover these issues, after consultations – which have been going on since the start of the week – were inconclusive. The official urged countries to embrace the “mutirão” spirit, meaning one of collaboration and constructive discussion.

Work on additional substantive topics – such as adaptation to the impacts of the climate emergency, the just transition for those affected by the transition to a green economy and how to build governance capabilities in developing countries – proceeded productively, the host reported.

Brazil’s lead representative said the technical phase of the summit proceedings was approaching completion, and the high-level stage – when ministers who have the authority to change their nations' positions join – was beginning.