Brazilian Environment Minister Calls for Courage to Establish Fossil Energy Phaseout Plan at UN Climate Summit

The environment minister, the minister, has called on every country to demonstrate the bravery needed to confront the necessity of a global fossil fuel phaseout, describing the development of a detailed plan as an “ethical” answer to the climate crisis.

The minister emphasized, however, that involvement in this endeavor would be optional and “independently decided” for interested nations.

This issue remains one of the most debated subjects at the COP30 in Brazil, with countries split over whether and in what way such a roadmap can be addressed. As the host, Brazil has maintained a balanced position on what can be included on the official agenda.

Silva voiced approval for the potential of a roadmap, without directly committing Brazil to it. She stated: “In times we have a terrain that is very challenging, it is helpful that we have a map. But the map does not force us to proceed, or to climb.”

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

Scores of nations meeting in Belém for the global climate conference, which is starting its second week, are aiming to determine how a worldwide phaseout of fossil fuels could be implemented. These nations aim to advance a historic agreement reached two years ago at a previous UN summit to “transition away from fossil fuels.”

The commitment had no a schedule or specifics on the way it could be realized, and although it was passed by all, several countries have since attempted to disavow the promise. Attempts last year to elaborate on its real-world meaning were blocked by resistance from petrostates at COP29.

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

For these reasons, the host has been cautious of calls by some countries to include the transition on the agenda for COP30. But Silva has strived behind the scenes to ensure the topic could be discussed at the summit outside the official program.

She convinced the nation's president, who made mention three times to the need to “move away from dependence on traditional energy” at the summit of world leaders that preceded COP30, and at the opening of the event.

“This is something that we know at some point had to be put forward, because it is the sole way to address the issue from the source,” Marina Silva explained. “We recognise that it is challenging, and we cannot sell unrealistic expectations. Bringing up the topic is courageous, and I hope [to see] this bravery from everyone, from producing nations and using countries.”

The nation had not initiated the push for a transition, she clarified, because that had been initiated at the earlier summit. Instead, it was allowing the talks to take place in line with what certain nations wished. “We understand these subjects are sensitive. We will provide the chance to talk about it,” she added.

Time is insufficient at COP30 to create a roadmap, a process the minister said could take a number of years because many countries confronted complicated challenges around reliance on fossil fuels, or wanted to use the proceeds from selling fossil fuels to finance their economic growth.

“The country raises the topic, because Brazil is both a producing nation and user,” she noted. “But Brazil is different, because it, if it wants to, need not rely on non-renewables. We have to recognise that there are certain nations that depend on carbon energy in their economies and lack simple alternatives, and some where oil and gas are the foundation of their economic structure.

“To be fair is to be just to all, but the fundamental, primordial justice is not being unjust to the Earth, because it is our shared home.”

If the proposal receives sufficient backing, COP30 could set up a platform in which the work of creating a roadmap to the phaseout could begin.

This endeavor would require discussions with every participating nations to the UN climate treaty and guidelines for how the process would proceed, Silva said. “After we have criteria, a management framework can be developed; after we have a strategy, and establish safeguards to be able to establish trust in the system, I believe that with these components we can turn positive concepts into steps that are more defined, and more concrete.”

It is uncertain that a suggestion to start drawing up a plan would win approval at the conference, even if it does not require the official consent of the summit, which proceeds by unanimous agreement and can be hijacked by special interests. COP experts have suggested they believe there could be backing for such a idea from about sixty nations, but there are thought to be at least 40 opposed. There are 195 countries represented at the talks.

“Despite being the primary source of global warming, carbon-based energy are about the most contentious subject there is within the international climate talks, so to see a chunky group of countries publicly supporting a route to realizing global transition is in itself highly significant.”

“In simple terms, there’s no path to a world where warming stays below 1.5 degrees in which nations cannot to talk about ending fossil fuel use.”

“We need this language for real in this discussion. It’s highly illogical that we discuss all topics but then when fossil fuels are the real problem.”

Discussions carried on on Saturday on several outstanding topics that have not yet been incorporated into the formal schedule: commerce, transparency, finance and how to tackle the gap between the carbon reduction countries have planned and those needed to keep to the 1.5C warming limit.

A summit chair promised a “note” that would cover these issues, after discussions – which have been going on since Monday – were unresolved. He urged countries to embrace the “mutirão” spirit, referring to one of cooperation and constructive dialogue.

Work on other substantive issues – including adaptation to the impacts of the climate crisis, the just transition for those impacted by the move to a green economic system and how to strengthen governance capabilities in developing countries – carried on constructively, the host reported.

Brazil’s chief negotiator said the detailed part of the summit proceedings was approaching the end, and the high-level stage – when government leaders who have the power to change their nations' positions arrive – was beginning.