Brazil's Environment Minister Calls for Courage to Establish Fossil Energy Phaseout Plan at UN Climate Summit

The climate chief, Marina Silva, has called on every country to show the courage needed to confront the imperative of a worldwide fossil fuel phaseout, describing the creation of a roadmap as an “moral” response to the global warming emergency.

The minister stressed, though, that participation in this endeavor would be optional and “self-determined” for willing nations.

This issue stands as one of the most debated subjects at the COP30 in the host country, with nations split over whether and in what way such a roadmap can be addressed. As the host, Brazil has adopted a balanced stance on what can be placed on the official agenda.

The official expressed support for the possibility of a plan, without explicitly pledging Brazil to it. She remarked: “In times we have a situation that is very challenging, it is helpful that we have a map. But the map does not force us to travel, or to advance.”

Speaking further, she noted: “The roadmap is an response to our scientific knowledge [of the climate crisis]. It is an moral response.”

Dozens of countries gathered in Belém for the UN climate summit, which is entering its next phase, are aiming to determine how a global phaseout of fossil fuels could be implemented. These nations hope to build on a landmark resolution made two years ago at a previous UN summit to “move away from non-renewable energy sources.”

The pledge lacked a schedule or details on the way it could be realized, and although it was adopted unanimously, several nations have later tried to back away from the pledge. Efforts last year to expand on its real-world implications were stymied by opposition from petrostates at another UN summit.

As a result, there was no reference of the shift away from carbon fuels in the final agreement of that conference.

Because of this, Brazil has been cautious of demands by some countries to place the transition on the agenda for COP30. But the minister has worked hard behind the scenes to ensure the topic could be talked about at the conference outside the formal program.

The minister convinced Brazil’s leader, and he made public reference three times to the need to “move away from reliance on fossil fuels” at the global leaders' meeting that came before the conference, and at the start of the event.

“This is something that we understand at some point had to be put forward, because it is the only way to face the issue from the source,” Marina Silva said. “We recognise that it is not easy, and we must not sell unrealistic expectations. Raising the topic is brave, and I wish [to see] this bravery from everyone, from producers and using countries.”

Brazil had not initiated the push for a transition, the minister said, because that had been done at the earlier summit. Rather, it was allowing the discussions to occur in accordance with what certain countries wished. “We know these topics are delicate. We will provide the chance to discuss it,” the minister added.

There is not enough time at the summit to create a roadmap, a task the minister called could take several years because many countries confronted complicated issues around reliance on carbon-based energy, or wanted to use the proceeds from selling oil and gas to finance their economic growth.

“Brazil brings up the subject, because Brazil is simultaneously a producer and consumer,” she said. “But the nation is unique, because it, if it wants to, does not have to depend on fossil fuels. We have to understand that there are certain nations that rely on carbon energy in their economic systems and don’t have easy alternatives, and others where oil and gas are the foundation of their economy.

“To be fair is to be fair to everyone, but the fundamental, basic justice is not being unjust to the planet, because it is our home.”

Should the proposal gains sufficient backing, COP30 could establish a platform in which the work of creating a roadmap to the transition could begin.

This endeavor would require dialogue with every signatory countries to the UN climate treaty and criteria for how the initiative would proceed, Silva said. “After we have standards, a governance structure can be developed; after we have a strategy, and establish protections to be able to establish confidence in the system, I am confident that with these components we can transform good ideas into steps that are clearer, and more concrete.”

It is uncertain that a proposal to begin developing a plan would win approval at the conference, even if it may not need the official approval of the summit, which operates by unanimous agreement and can be hijacked by particular groups. COP analysts have indicated they believe there could be support for such a proposal from about sixty nations, but there are thought to be at least forty against. There are one hundred ninety-five nations represented at the negotiations.

“In spite of being the primary source of climate change, carbon-based energy are about the most contentious topic there is within the UN negotiations, so to see a chunky coalition of nations publicly supporting a path to achieving worldwide phaseout is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

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

“We need this language for actual in this conversation. It’s highly illogical that we discuss all topics but that when fossil fuels are the actual problem.”

Discussions continued on the weekend on four unresolved topics that have not yet been incorporated into the formal schedule: commerce, openness, funding and how to address the shortfall between the carbon reduction countries have proposed and those needed to hold to the 1.5-degree warming limit.

The summit chair promised a “document” that would address these issues, after consultations – which have been going on since the start of the week – were unresolved. The official urged nations to adopt the “mutirão” attitude, meaning one of cooperation and positive discussion.

Work on additional key issues – including adjustment to the effects of the climate crisis, the just transition for those impacted by the transition to a green economy and how to build governance capabilities in less developed nations – carried on productively, the host reported.

The host nation's lead representative said the technical part of the COP proceedings was approaching completion, and the political phase – when government leaders who have the authority to change their nations' positions arrive – was beginning.