COP30 draft lacks fossil fuel phase-out roadmap — Report

Nations attending the COP30 climate conference are experiencing increased conflict following the release of a new draft document this week ...

Nations attending the COP30 climate conference are experiencing increased conflict following the release of a new draft document this week that omits any mention of a plan to phase out fossil fuels, a decision that has drawn criticism from countries calling for more decisive measures.

The revised text was released on Friday morning in Belém, where discussions are extending past their expected timeline as governments discuss the next steps and the reason a crucial pledge was omitted.

The new COP30 draft Report lacks a roadmap for phasing out fossil fuels, even though at least 29 countries have warned they will reject any final agreement that doesn't feature a strategy to move away from fossil fuels.

The letter, disclosed on Thursday, requested the Brazilian presidency to reinstate the plan leading to the conclusion of the discussions.

A previous version of the COP30 draft released on Tuesday featured a provision to start developing such a roadmap. However, the new "mutirão" text published early Friday eliminated both the roadmap and any reference to "fossil fuels."

As per reports, Brazil encountered considerable pressure from certain oil-producing nations like Saudi Arabia and Russia, along with major oil consumers such as India – to remove the mention.

Discussions had already become tense on Thursday, as some nations warned they might leave the session, which was disrupted after a fire occurred in part of the conference venue, causing negotiations to pause for over six hours.

A document viewed by the Guardian indicates that governments advocating for the plan consider it a "non-negotiable" point.

It mentions: “We are unable to back a result that lacks a plan for a fair, structured, and balanced shift from fossil fuels…” and cautions that anything less strong would be seen as moving in the wrong direction.

This demand follows the Global Stocktake from last year, which was approved at COP28 in Dubai, where countries made their first commitment to "transition away from fossil fuels" but did not establish schedules or specifics. Since then, certain countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, have tried to diminish or undo that pledge.

Before COP30, advocates for the phase-out organized a meeting that would enable all nations to debate a strategy without imposing immediate timelines.

Over 80 nations participated in the campaign and announced it on Tuesday. However, resistance from a faction referred to as the "like-minded developing countries," which includes Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iran, and Bolivia, hindered advancement.

The list of nations backing the roadmap comprises Austria, Belgium, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and additional countries.

Colombia's environmental minister, Irene Vélez Torres, stated to the Guardian that the presidency's latest document was inadequate and that "The success of this Cop cannot be judged by adopting a text at any price."

Catherine Abreu from the International Climate Politics Hub mentioned that nations are seeking a strong agreement encompassing adaptation financing, enhanced financial support, measures against fossil fuels and deforestation, and a pledge to a fair transition. "The issue is whether the Brazil presidency will pay attention to these demands, as time is limited," she stated.

The discussions, initially scheduled to conclude on Friday evening, are likely to extend into the weekend due to delays resulting from the fire. As the talks move into their final stage, the debate regarding the shift away from fossil fuels continues to be the main topic, along with ongoing discussions on climate funding, transparency, trade, and the extent of assistance that developing nations will get to address climate effects.

(The Guardian UK)

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