Brazil's Environment Minister Calls for Courage to Create Fossil Energy Phase-out Roadmap at UN Climate Summit

Brazil’s environment minister, Marina Silva, has called on all nations to demonstrate the bravery needed to confront the necessity of a global fossil fuel phaseout, describing the development of a roadmap as an “moral” answer to the climate crisis.

The minister stressed, though, that involvement in this endeavor would be voluntary and “self-determined” for interested nations.

This issue remains one of the most debated subjects at the UN climate summit in the host country, with nations split over whether and in what way such a strategy can be discussed. Hosting the event, the nation has maintained a carefully neutral stance on what can be placed on the official schedule.

Silva expressed support for the potential of a roadmap, without directly pledging Brazil to it. The minister stated: “In times we have a situation that is very challenging, it is helpful that we have a guide. But the map does not force us to proceed, or to advance.”

Speaking further, the minister added: “The roadmap is an answer to our scientific understanding [of the climate emergency]. It is an ethical response.”

Scores of countries gathered in the host city for the UN climate summit, which is starting its next phase, are aiming to determine how a worldwide transition of fossil fuels could work. These nations hope to advance a historic agreement reached two years ago at COP28 to “move away from fossil fuels.”

That commitment lacked a timetable or specifics on how it could be achieved, and even though it was adopted unanimously, several nations have later attempted to back away from the pledge. Attempts last year to expand on its practical meaning were stymied by resistance from oil-dependent nations at another UN summit.

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

Because of this, Brazil has been wary of demands by certain nations to place the phaseout on the agenda for the current summit. But the minister has worked hard behind the scenes to ensure the pledge could be talked about at the summit apart from the official program.

She convinced Brazil’s leader, who made mention three times to the need to “shift from dependence on traditional energy” at the summit of world leaders that preceded COP30, and at the start of the event.

“The issue is something that we understand at a certain time had to be put forward, because it is the sole way to face the problem from the source,” Marina Silva explained. “We recognise that it is not easy, and we must not offer false hopes. Raising the subject is courageous, and I wish [to see] this bravery from all, from producing nations and consumers.”

The nation had not started the call for a phaseout, she clarified, because that had been initiated at COP28. Rather, it was allowing the discussions to take place in line with what some countries wished. “We know these topics are sensitive. We will provide the opportunity to discuss it,” she added.

Time is insufficient at COP30 to draw up a roadmap, a task the minister said could take several years because numerous nations confronted complicated issues around dependence on fossil fuels, or aimed to use the proceeds from selling oil and gas to finance their economic growth.

“Brazil raises the topic, because Brazil is simultaneously a producer and user,” she noted. “But Brazil is different, because it, if it wants to, does not have to rely on non-renewables. We have to understand that there are some that rely on carbon energy in their economies and don’t have simple alternatives, and others where oil and gas are the foundation of their economy.

“To be just is to be just to everyone, but the essential, primordial justice is to avoid being unjust to the planet, because it is our home.”

Should the proposal gains enough support, the summit could establish a forum in which the work of drawing up a roadmap to the phaseout could begin.

This endeavor would involve dialogue with all signatory nations to the UN framework convention on climate change and guidelines for how the initiative would unfold, Silva explained. “Once we have standards, a governance structure can be developed; once we have a strategy, and create protections to be able to build confidence in the process, I believe that with these elements we can turn positive concepts into actions that are clearer, and more concrete.”

It is uncertain that a suggestion to begin drawing up a roadmap would win approval at the conference, although it does not require the formal approval of the conference, which proceeds by unanimous agreement and can be disrupted by special interests. COP experts have indicated they think there could be backing for such a proposal from about sixty nations, but there are believed to be at least forty against. A total of one hundred ninety-five countries participating at the talks.

“Despite being the primary source of climate change, carbon-based energy are about the most contentious topic there is within the UN negotiations, so to see a chunky group of countries openly supporting a path to realizing worldwide transition is in itself highly significant.”

“Put simply, there’s no path to a world where warming remains below 1.5 degrees in which nations aren’t able to discuss ending fossil fuel use.”

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

Negotiations continued on Saturday on four outstanding issues that have still not been incorporated into the formal schedule: trade, openness, finance and how to address the gap between the carbon reduction countries have planned and those needed to hold to the 1.5C temperature limit.

The summit president promised a “note” that would address these issues, after discussions – which have been going on since the start of the week – were inconclusive. He called on nations to embrace the “mutirão” attitude, referring to one of collaboration and positive discussion.

Work on additional substantive issues – such as adjustment to the impacts of the climate crisis, the just transition for those impacted by the move to a low-carbon economic system and how to build governance capabilities in less developed nations – carried on productively, the presidency reported.

Brazil’s chief negotiator said the technical part of the summit process was nearing completion, and the high-level phase – when government leaders who have the power to change their countries’ positions arrive – was beginning.