🔗 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 fossil fuel phaseout, describing the development of a roadmap as an “ethical” answer to the global warming emergency.

She emphasized, though, that participation in this endeavor would be optional and “independently decided” for interested nations.

The topic stands as one of the most contentious matters at the UN climate summit in Brazil, with countries split over whether and in what way such a strategy can be discussed. Hosting the event, the nation has maintained a carefully neutral stance on what can be placed on the formal schedule.

Silva voiced support for the potential of a roadmap, though not directly pledging the country to it. She stated: “In times we have a terrain that is quite grim, it is good that we have a guide. But the map does not compel us to travel, or to climb.”

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

Scores of countries gathered in the host city for the global climate conference, which is starting its second week, are seeking to determine how a worldwide transition of fossil fuels could be implemented. These nations hope to advance a landmark resolution reached two years ago at COP28 to “move away from non-renewable energy sources.”

That pledge had no a timetable or specifics on how it could be realized, and although it was adopted by all, several nations have since attempted to back away from the pledge. Efforts last year to expand on its real-world meaning were stymied by resistance from petrostates at another UN summit.

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

Because of this, the host has been wary of calls by certain nations to include the phaseout on the schedule for COP30. But the minister has strived behind the scenes to make sure the pledge could be discussed at the summit outside the official agenda.

She convinced Brazil’s leader, who made mention repeatedly to the need to “move away from dependence on fossil fuels” at the summit of world leaders that preceded 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 only way to face the issue from the source,” the minister said. “We acknowledge that it is challenging, and we cannot offer false hopes. Bringing up the topic is courageous, and I hope [to see] this courage from everyone, from producers and consumers.”

The nation had not started the push for a phaseout, the minister clarified, because that had been done at COP28. Instead, it was allowing the discussions to take place in accordance with what some countries desired. “We know these subjects are delicate. We will give the chance to talk about it,” the minister added.

There is not enough time at COP30 to draw up a detailed plan, a process the minister said could take several years because many countries confronted complicated challenges around dependence on carbon-based energy, or aimed to use the revenue from selling fossil fuels to finance their development.

“The country brings up the topic, because Brazil is both a producer and user,” the minister noted. “But the nation is unique, because it, if it chooses to, need not depend on fossil fuels. We have to recognise that there are certain nations that depend on carbon energy in their economic systems and lack simple solutions, and some where oil and gas are the foundation of their economy.

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

Should the pledge gains sufficient backing, COP30 could establish a platform in which the process of drawing up a roadmap to the phaseout could start.

This process would involve discussions with all signatory countries to the UN framework convention on climate change and guidelines for how the process would unfold, the minister said. “After we have criteria, a governance structure can be developed; once we have a plan, and create protections to be able to establish trust in the system, I am confident that with these elements we can transform good ideas into steps that are more defined, and more concrete.”

It is uncertain that a proposal to begin drawing up a plan would be accepted at the conference, even if it may not need the official approval of the summit, which operates by unanimous agreement and can be disrupted by particular groups. COP experts have indicated they believe there could be backing for such a idea from about sixty countries, but there are thought to be at least 40 against. There are 195 countries participating at the negotiations.

“Despite being the root cause of global warming, carbon-based energy are about the most divisive topic there is within the UN negotiations, so to see a sizable coalition of nations openly backing a route to achieving worldwide phaseout is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

“Put simply, there’s no path to a planet where warming remains below 1.5 degrees in which nations aren’t able to discuss ending fossil fuel use.”

“We need this language for real in this conversation. It’s quite stupid that we discuss everything but then when fossil fuels are the actual challenge.”

Discussions carried on on the weekend on several unresolved issues that have not yet been incorporated into the formal schedule: trade, openness, funding and how to tackle the gap between the emissions cuts countries have planned and those needed to keep to the 1.5-degree warming limit.

The summit chair promised a “document” that would cover these issues, after discussions – which have been underway since the start of the week – were unresolved. The official urged countries to adopt the “mutirão” attitude, meaning one of collaboration and positive dialogue.

Progress on other key topics – such as adaptation to the impacts of the climate crisis, the fair shift 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 detailed part of the summit proceedings was nearing completion, and the high-level phase – when ministers who have the power to change their nations' positions arrive – was starting.