Brazilian Minister Urges Courage to Create Fossil Energy Phaseout Roadmap at UN Climate Summit

Brazil’s climate chief, Marina Silva, has called on every country to demonstrate the courage needed to address the necessity of a worldwide transition away from fossil fuels, describing the creation of a detailed plan as an “ethical” response to the climate crisis.

The minister emphasized, however, that participation in this endeavor would be optional and “self-determined” for interested nations.

This issue remains one of the most contentious matters at the COP30 in Brazil, with nations split over whether and in what way such a strategy can be addressed. Hosting the event, Brazil has maintained a balanced position on which items can be placed on the formal agenda.

The official expressed support for the possibility of a plan, without explicitly pledging the country to it. The minister stated: “In times we have a terrain that is quite grim, it is good that we have a guide. But the map does not force us to travel, or to climb.”

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

Dozens of nations gathered in the host city for the UN climate summit, which is entering its second week, are seeking to establish how a global transition of fossil fuels could be implemented. These nations aim to build on a landmark resolution made two years ago at a previous UN summit to “move away from non-renewable energy sources.”

That pledge had no a timetable or details on how it could be achieved, and even though it was passed unanimously, some nations have since attempted to disavow the pledge. Attempts last year to expand on its real-world meaning were stymied by opposition from petrostates at COP29.

Consequently, there was no mention of the shift away from fossil fuels in the final agreement of that conference.

For these reasons, Brazil has been wary of calls by certain nations to include the phaseout on the agenda for the current summit. But the minister has strived in private to make sure the topic could be discussed at the summit outside the formal agenda.

The minister convinced Brazil’s leader, who made public reference repeatedly to the need to “shift from reliance on fossil fuels” at the summit of world leaders that came before COP30, and at the opening of the event.

“This is a matter that we know at a certain time had to be raised, because it is the only way to face the problem from the root,” Marina Silva explained. “We recognise that it is challenging, and we cannot sell unrealistic expectations. Bringing up the subject is courageous, and I hope [to see] this courage from everyone, from producers and using countries.”

Brazil had not started the call for a transition, she clarified, because that had been done at COP28. Instead, it was allowing the talks to occur in line with what some countries wished. “We know these subjects are delicate. We will give the chance to discuss it,” the minister added.

Time is insufficient at the summit to draw up a detailed plan, a process Silva said could take a number of years because numerous countries confronted complex issues around dependence on carbon-based energy, or wanted to use the proceeds from exporting fossil fuels to finance their development.

“The country brings up the subject, because it is both a producer and consumer,” the minister said. “But the nation is different, because Brazil, if it chooses to, does not have to rely on fossil fuels. We have to recognise that there are certain nations that rely on carbon energy in their economies and lack easy alternatives, and others where oil and gas are the foundation of their economic structure.

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

If the proposal gains enough support, the summit could set up a platform in which the process of drawing up a strategy to the transition could begin.

This process would require discussions with every signatory nations to the UN climate treaty and guidelines for how the initiative would unfold, Silva said. “Once we have standards, a governance structure can be developed; after we have a strategy, and create protections to be able to build trust in the process, I believe that with these elements we can turn positive concepts into steps that are clearer, and more concrete.”

It is uncertain that a proposal to begin drawing up a plan would be accepted at the conference, although it may not need the official consent of the summit, which operates by unanimous agreement and can be disrupted by particular groups. COP analysts have indicated they think there could be backing for such a proposal from about sixty countries, but there are thought to be at least forty opposed. A total of one hundred ninety-five countries represented at the talks.

“In spite of being the root cause of climate change, fossil fuels are about the most divisive subject there is within the international climate talks, so to see a chunky coalition of nations openly supporting a path to realizing global phaseout is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

“Put simply, there’s no route to a planet where temperature rise remains below 1.5 degrees in which nations aren’t able to talk about fossil fuel phaseout.”

“We need this wording for real in this conversation. It’s quite stupid that we talk about everything but then when fossil fuels are the actual problem.”

Negotiations carried on on the weekend on several outstanding issues that have still not been included into the official schedule: commerce, transparency, finance and how to address the shortfall between the carbon reduction nations have proposed and those needed to keep to the 1.5C warming target.

The summit president pledged a “note” that would address these matters, after consultations – which have been underway since the start of the week – were inconclusive. He urged countries to embrace the “mutirão” spirit, meaning one of cooperation and positive discussion.

Work on other key topics – such as adaptation to the effects of the climate crisis, the just transition for those affected by the transition to a green economy and how to strengthen governance capabilities in developing countries – proceeded constructively, the presidency reported.

Brazil’s lead representative stated the technical part of the COP process was approaching completion, and the political phase – when ministers who have the power to change their nations' stances join – was beginning.