COP30 host urges unity ahead of fossil fuels showdown
The host of the COP30 climate summit in Brazil called on countries to unite for a deal in the final hours of the summit, as a showdown looms over whether the accord will put the world on a clearer path away from fossil fuels.
“This cannot be an agenda that divides us,” COP30 president André Corrêa do Lago told delegates at a public plenary session at the conference before releasing delegates for further negotiations.
“We must reach an agreement among ourselves”
The dispute over the future of oil, gas and coal underlined the difficulties of reaching a consensus agreement at the annual conference, which serves as a lasting test of global resolve to prevent the worst effects of global warming.
The text of a draft agreement released before dawn by summit host Brazil contained no reference to fossil fuels and completely eliminated a number of options on the subject included in an earlier version.
While many countries, including major oil and gas producing countries, described the options as unacceptable, 80 governments also supported these options.
Panama negotiator Juan Carlos Monterrey said at a press conference ahead of the general assembly on Friday morning that leaving fossil fuels out of the COP30 agreement risked turning the talks into a “clown show”.
“Not naming the causes of the climate crisis is not reconciliation, it is denial,” he said.
Amazon’s two-week conference in Belem is scheduled to end Friday evening.
Previous COP summits had exceeded their deadlines before a compromise was eventually reached.
Before a treaty text can be adopted, it must be unanimously approved by the approximately 200 countries present.
The United States has refused to send an official delegation this year under President Donald Trump, who has said global warming is a hoax.
Corrêa do Lago said the exit from the world’s largest economy meant unification around COP30 was vital to ensure the survival of the multilateral process: “The world is watching.”
For days, countries have been arguing about the future of fossil fuels, which release greenhouse gases when burned and which scientists say are the biggest contributor to climate change.
Dozens of members are pushing hard for a “road map” laying out how countries should follow through on promises they made two years ago at COP28 to move away from oil, gas and coal.
Wopke Hoekstra, the European Union’s climate commissioner, said in a statement during consultations on Friday that the issue is important in terms of building on past commitments to reduce emissions.
“We need to make sure that the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy is real and is in the text,” he said.
Saudi Arabia and other oil-producing countries oppose it, COP30 negotiators told Reuters.
A Brazilian negotiator told Reuters that the fossil fuel language was unlikely to be reintroduced and that the summit presidency was pushing for only minor adjustments to the current draft.
Other negotiators said compromises that would strengthen the agreement’s commitments to accelerate emissions-cutting action may be possible, especially if rich countries commit to providing more financing to developing countries to help them achieve a green transition.
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