Global Coalition Pushes for Fossil Fuel Phase-Out at COP30

At the ongoing COP30 climate summit in Belém, Brazil, over 80 countries have united to advocate for a roadmap to phase out fossil fuels. This coalition includes nations from Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Pacific, as well as EU member states and the UK. The call for a transition away from fossil fuels aims to be a central outcome of the summit, despite significant opposition from petrostates like Saudi Arabia and other major economies. Tina Stege, climate envoy for the Marshall Islands, emphasized the urgency of this initiative, stating, “Let’s get behind the idea of a fossil fuel roadmap, let’s work together and make it a plan.”

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The push for a fossil fuel phase-out follows a commitment made at COP28 in Dubai in 2023. However, subsequent attempts to advance this resolution faced challenges, particularly from countries like Saudi Arabia, which sought to undermine the agreement. At COP30, the Brazilian presidency initially excluded the transition from the official agenda, but the growing coalition of supportive countries has insisted that addressing fossil fuel dependency is essential for achieving the Paris Agreement's goal of limiting temperature rises to 1.5°C.

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Ed Miliband, the UK’s energy secretary, highlighted the significance of this coalition, stating, “We are all saying very clearly that this issue must be at the heart of this conference.” Rachel Kyte, the UK climate envoy, echoed this sentiment, calling for actionable steps to implement the resolutions from COP28. Despite the Brazilian presidency's draft text mentioning a roadmap for phasing out fossil fuels, some nations, including Vanuatu, criticized it as insufficiently robust, demanding measurable targets and clearer guidelines.

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Opposition to the fossil fuel phase-out remains strong, particularly from countries with vested interests in fossil fuel production. Brazil's internal divisions complicate the situation, as President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva supports the transition, while other factions within his government favor expanding oil and gas drilling. Critics argue that without a strong commitment and clear targets, the proposed roadmap may lack the necessary impact.

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While the coalition advocates for a unified approach to phasing out fossil fuels, there is no consensus on the specifics of the roadmap. The draft text released by the COP30 presidency includes various options, but many countries feel it lacks the ambition required to address the climate crisis effectively. The absence of the United States from the negotiations further complicates the dynamics, as its stance on fossil fuels remains unclear.

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Brazil aims to finalize agreements on contentious issues, including the fossil fuel phase-out, by the end of COP30. The Brazilian government is expected to revise the draft text based on consultations with various country groupings. As negotiations continue, the outcome will significantly influence global climate action and the future of fossil fuel dependency.

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• “Let’s get behind the idea of a fossil fuel roadmap, let’s work together and make it a plan.” — Tina Stege, Climate Envoy for the Marshall Islands

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• “This is a global coalition, with global north and global south countries coming together and saying with one voice: this is an issue which cannot be swept under the carpet. We are all saying very clearly that this issue must be at the heart of this conference.” — Ed Miliband, UK Energy Secretary

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• “It’s not strong enough, it needs to be more action-oriented, it needs measurable targets, there need to be elements showing what this roadmap is going to look like.” — Ralph Regenvanu, Minister for Climate Change, Vanuatu

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• “Every country has a transition it needs to go through.” — Rachel Kyte, UK Climate Envoy

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• “The proposed texts released today show some progress but largely miss the mark for the level of ambition that this COP requires," said Rachel Cleetus, senior policy director for the Climate and Energy program at the Union of Concerned Scientists.” — Rachel Cleetus, Senior Policy Director, Union of Concerned Scientists

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