Brazil's Environment Minister Urges Boldness to Establish Fossil Energy Phaseout Roadmap at COP30

Brazil’s climate chief, Marina Silva, has urged all nations to demonstrate the courage needed to confront the necessity of a global fossil fuel phaseout, describing the development of a detailed plan as an “moral” answer to the global warming emergency.

She emphasized, however, that participation in this endeavor would be voluntary and “independently decided” for interested governments.

This issue stands as one of the most contentious matters at the UN climate summit in Brazil, with nations divided over if and in what way such a roadmap can be addressed. As the host, Brazil has maintained a carefully neutral position on what can be included on the formal schedule.

The official expressed approval for the possibility of a roadmap, though not directly pledging the country to it. She remarked: “When 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 climb.”

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

Scores of countries gathered in the host city for the global climate conference, which is starting its second week, are aiming to establish how a global phaseout of fossil fuels could be implemented. These nations aim to advance a landmark agreement made two years ago at a previous UN summit to “move away from non-renewable energy sources.”

That commitment had no a timetable or details on how it could be realized, and although it was adopted unanimously, several nations have since attempted to disavow the pledge. Efforts last year to elaborate on its real-world implications were stymied by opposition from oil-dependent nations at COP29.

As a result, there was no reference of the shift away from fossil fuels in the outcome of that conference.

For these reasons, Brazil has been wary of calls by some countries to place the phaseout on the schedule for COP30. But Silva has strived behind the scenes to ensure the pledge could be discussed at the summit apart from the formal agenda.

The minister won over the nation's president, and he made public reference repeatedly to the need to “shift from dependence on traditional energy” at the summit of world leaders that preceded COP30, and at the opening of the event.

“The issue is something that we know at some point had to be raised, because it is the sole way to face the problem from the root,” the minister explained. “We acknowledge that it is challenging, and we cannot sell unrealistic expectations. Raising the subject is courageous, and I hope [to see] this bravery from everyone, from producers and using countries.”

Brazil had not started the call for a transition, the minister clarified, because that had been done at COP28. Instead, it was enabling the talks to take place in accordance with what certain nations desired. “We know these topics are delicate. We will give the opportunity to talk about it,” the minister said.

Time is insufficient at the summit to create a roadmap, a process the minister said could take a number of years because many countries faced complicated issues around reliance on carbon-based energy, or aimed to use the revenue from exporting fossil fuels to fund their economic growth.

“Brazil brings up the topic, because Brazil is both a producing nation and consumer,” she said. “But Brazil is different, because Brazil, if it chooses to, does not have to rely on fossil fuels. We have to understand that there are certain nations that depend on fossil fuels in their economic systems and lack simple alternatives, and others where oil and gas are the basis of their economy.

“To be just is to be just to everyone, but the essential, primordial fairness is to avoid being unjust to the Earth, because it is our shared home.”

If the proposal receives sufficient support, the summit could set up a forum in which the work of creating a strategy to the phaseout could begin.

This process would involve discussions with every signatory countries to the UN framework convention on climate change and guidelines for how the process would unfold, Silva explained. “Once we have standards, a governance structure can be drawn up; once we have a plan, and establish protections to be able to establish confidence in the system, I believe that with these elements we can transform good ideas into steps that are more defined, and more tangible.”

There is no guarantee that a suggestion to start drawing up a plan would be accepted at the conference, even if it may not need the formal consent of the conference, which operates by unanimous agreement and can be disrupted by special interests. Climate analysts have indicated they think there could be backing for such a idea from about 60 nations, but there are believed to be at least 40 against. A total of one hundred ninety-five countries participating at the talks.

“In spite of being the primary source of global warming, carbon-based energy are about the most divisive subject there is within the international climate talks, so to see a chunky coalition of countries publicly backing a path to realizing global transition is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

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

“We need this wording for real in this discussion. It’s quite stupid that we talk about everything but then when the main issue are the real challenge.”

Negotiations carried on on the weekend on four unresolved topics that have still not been included into the formal schedule: commerce, transparency, funding and how to tackle the shortfall between the emissions cuts countries have planned and those required to keep to the 1.5-degree warming limit.

The COP30 president promised a “note” that would address these issues, after discussions – which have been going on since the start of the week – were inconclusive. The official called on nations to adopt the “mutirão” attitude, referring to one of cooperation and positive dialogue.

Work on additional key issues – including adaptation to the effects of the climate crisis, the just transition for those impacted by the move to a green economy and how to build governance capabilities in less developed nations – proceeded constructively, the host said.

Brazil’s chief negotiator stated the technical phase of the COP process was nearing completion, and the high-level stage – when government leaders who have the power to alter their countries’ positions arrive – was beginning.