UN climate talks fail to secure new fossil fuel promises

After bitter debate, the UN climate summit COP30 in Belém, Brazil, ended with an agreement that did not include direct reference to planet-warming fossil fuels.

It was a disappointing end for more than 80 countries, including Britain and the EU, who wanted the meeting to commit to halting the world’s use of oil, coal and gas more quickly.

But oil-producing countries have embraced the idea that they should be allowed to use fossil fuel resources to grow their economies.

The meeting comes as the UN says it fears global efforts to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels will fail.

A representative from Colombia angrily criticized the COP presidency on Saturday for not allowing countries to object to the agreement at the last meeting, known as the general assembly.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro said he “does not accept” the agreement.

The final agreement, called Mutirão, calls on countries to “voluntarily” step up climate action.

The two-week talks were chaotic at times. Toilets ran out of water, heavy storms flooded the venue, and delegates struggled to cope in hot, humid rooms.

The COP’s approximately 50,000 registered delegates were evacuated twice. A group of approximately 150 protesters broke through the security lines and entered the venue, carrying banners saying “our forests are not for sale”.

A massive fire broke out on Thursday, quickly tearing a hole in the roof and forcing attendees to evacuate for at least six hours.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva chose the city of Belém to draw world attention to the Amazon rainforest and to inject finance into the city.

Brazil has been criticized for its plans to explore for oil at the mouth of the Amazon, despite its desire for a more ambitious fossil fuel deal.

Offshore oil and gas production is on track to increase until the early 2030s, according to analysis shared with the BBC by campaign group Global Witness.

However, some countries said they were satisfied with the result.

India praised the agreement, calling it “meaningful”. A group representing the interests of 39 small island and low-lying coastal states on Saturday described it as “flawed” but still a step towards “progress”.

Some poor countries have pledged more climate finance to help them adapt to the effects of climate change.

But it ended badly for more than 80 countries who bargained through the night to keep fossil fuel language stronger in the agreement.

Ed Miliband, the UK Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, insisted the meeting was “a step forward”.

“I would have preferred a more ambitious deal,” he said.

“We will not hide the fact that we prefer to have more, to be more ambitious in everything,” EU climate commissioner Wopke Hoekstra told reporters.