COP30 talks on brink: New draft text abandons phase-out hopes

The Summit leadership has published a new draft text on the outcome of COP30 climate negotiations that omits the mention of a phase-out roadmap for fossil fuels.

In response to the draft, the countries are threatening to block any agreement which will downplay fossil-fuel phase-out targets.

As reported by The Guardian, 29 countries in support of phasing-out fossil fuels wrote a letter to the Brazilian COP presidency, mentioning not to take part in any agreement that abandoned phase-out commitments.

The letter reads, “We cannot support an outcome that does not include a roadmap for implementing a just, orderly, and equitable transition away from fossil fuels. This expectation is shared by a vast majority of Parties, as well as by science and by the people who are watching our work closely. “

“The world is looking to this Cop to demonstrate continuity and progress after the Global Stocktake. Anything less would inevitably be seen as a step backward,” it added.

Early on Friday, a “mutirão” text was published by the presidency bereft of any potential roadmap from the “transition away from fossil fuels.”

According to sources, Brazil faced pressure from major petrostates, including Russia, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and other large petro-consumers to drop this resolution.

These protestors threatened to walk out of the climate talks.

In 2023, at COP28, the remarkable decision was made in which all countries made a pledge for the very first time to “transition away from fossil fuels,” without any specified timeline to achieve this milestone.

Since the signing of the pledge, some countries, especially petrostates, have tried to omit this affirmation.

At the COP29 climate talks in Azerbaijan, opposition overshadowed efforts to reconfirm this phase-out commitment.