🔗 Share this article

The climate chief, Marina Silva, has called on all nations to show the bravery needed to address the imperative of a worldwide transition away from fossil fuels, describing the creation of a detailed plan as an “moral” response to the climate crisis.

She stressed, though, that involvement in this process would be optional and “self-determined” for willing nations.

The topic remains one of the most debated matters at the UN climate summit in Brazil, with nations split over whether and in what way such a strategy can be addressed. As the host, the nation has maintained a carefully neutral position on what can be included on the formal schedule.

Silva expressed approval for the possibility of a plan, though not directly committing the country to it. The minister remarked: “In times we have a situation that is quite grim, it is helpful that we have a map. But the guide does not force us to travel, or to advance.”

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

Scores of countries meeting in Belém for the UN climate summit, which is entering its second week, are aiming to determine how a worldwide transition of fossil fuels could work. They hope to build on a landmark agreement reached two years ago at a previous UN summit to “transition away from fossil fuels.”

The pledge had no a timetable or specifics 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 meaning were stymied by opposition from oil-dependent nations at another UN summit.

As a result, there was no mention of the transition away from fossil fuels in the final agreement of COP29.

For these reasons, the host has been cautious of calls by certain nations to include the transition on the schedule for the current summit. But Silva has strived behind the scenes to ensure the topic could be talked about at the summit apart from the formal agenda.

She won over the nation's leader, who gave mention repeatedly to the need to “shift from reliance on traditional energy” at the global leaders' meeting that preceded the conference, and at the opening of the summit.

“The issue is a matter that we know at a certain time had to be raised, because it is the sole way to face the problem from the root,” the minister said. “We acknowledge that it is not easy, and we cannot offer false hopes. Bringing up the topic is courageous, and I hope [to see] this courage from all, from producers and using countries.”

Brazil had not started the push for a phaseout, she said, because that had been done at COP28. Instead, it was enabling the talks to occur in accordance with what certain countries desired. “We understand these topics are sensitive. We will give the chance to discuss it,” she said.

Time is insufficient at COP30 to create a roadmap, a task the minister called could take a number of years because numerous countries faced complicated challenges around reliance on fossil fuels, or aimed to use the proceeds from selling oil and gas to finance their development.

“Brazil brings up the topic, because it is simultaneously a producing nation and user,” she noted. “But the nation is different, because it, if it wants to, does not have to depend on non-renewables. We have to recognise that there are some that depend on carbon energy in their economic systems and lack simple alternatives, and some where oil and gas are the basis of their economic structure.

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

If the proposal receives sufficient backing, the summit could set up a platform in which the process of creating a strategy to the phaseout could start.

This endeavor would involve dialogue with every signatory countries to the UN climate treaty and criteria for how the process would unfold, Silva explained. “Once we have criteria, a management framework can be drawn up; once we have a plan, and create safeguards to be able to build trust in the system, I believe that with these elements we can turn positive concepts into actions that are clearer, and more concrete.”

It is uncertain that a suggestion to begin drawing up a plan would win approval at the conference, although it may not need the official approval of the summit, which proceeds by consensus and can be disrupted by particular groups. Climate analysts have suggested they believe there could be backing for such a proposal from about 60 nations, but there are thought to be at least forty against. There are 195 countries participating at the talks.

“Despite being the root cause of global warming, fossil fuels are about the most contentious subject there is within the UN negotiations, so to see a sizable group of nations openly backing a route to realizing global transition is in itself highly significant.”

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

“We require this wording for real in this conversation. It’s highly illogical that we talk about all topics but that when fossil fuels are the actual problem.”

Discussions continued on the weekend on several outstanding topics that have not yet been included into the official agenda: commerce, openness, finance and how to address the gap between the emissions cuts countries have proposed and those needed to hold to the 1.5C warming limit.

The COP30 chair pledged a “note” that would address these matters, after consultations – which have been going on since the start of the week – were unresolved. The official called on nations to embrace the “mutirão” spirit, meaning one of collaboration and constructive discussion.

Work on other key issues – including adaptation to the impacts of the climate emergency, the fair shift for those affected by the move to a green economy and how to strengthen governance capabilities in less developed nations – proceeded productively, the host reported.

Brazil’s chief negotiator stated the technical part of the summit proceedings was approaching completion, and the high-level phase – when government leaders who have the authority to alter their nations' positions join – was beginning.