A powerful coalition of over 80 countries delivered a unified statement at the UN COP30 summit in Belém, calling for the final agreement to mandate the creation of a roadmap to phase out fossil fuels.
The move is a concerted effort to build on the historic, but non-specific, commitment made at COP28 to “transition away from fossil fuels.” The group, which includes climate-vulnerable island nations, developed economies like the UK and Germany, and major developing countries like Colombia and Brazil, argues that a timeline and clear pathways are essential to keep the global temperature limit of 1.5 degrees C alive.
From pledge to practicality:
Ministers from the coalition held a press conference to underscore the urgency of transitioning from a general commitment to a practical implementation strategy. They welcomed the inclusion of a fossil fuel roadmap as an option in the Brazilian Presidency’s draft decision text, but stressed the need for it to be mandatory and strong. Tina Stege, Climate Envoy for the Marshall Islands, emphasized that action must replace ambiguity. “Let’s get behind the idea of a fossil fuel roadmap, let’s work together and make it a plan,” she said. She underscored the fact that for many low-lying nations, a lack of firm action on emissions constitutes an existential threat.
The sticking point of consensus:
The push for a roadmap is meeting resistance from a bloc of petrostates and fossil-fuel-dependent economies. Since the COP process requires decisions to be made by consensus, even a small number of opposing nations can prevent the strongest language from being adopted. Ed Miliband, the UK’s Energy Minister, said the international community must not be held back by this opposition. “We are all saying very clearly that this issue must be at the heart of this conference,” he said, noting that the demand for a phase-out is now a global chorus.
Roadmap for a just transition:
Crucially, the coalition insists that the roadmap must be framed around a just, orderly, and equitable transition. This recognizes that countries have vastly different energy mixes and development needs. Irene Vélez-Torres, Colombia’s Environment Minister, a country that has championed the transition, stressed the need for accountability and a full commitment. “What we have so far is that draft that has room for improvement, but it can end up like an onion: you peel back the layers and in the end you find nothing,” Vélez-Torres warned, urging negotiators not to let the final text be diluted into an empty promise.
Negotiations on the final decision text are expected to intensify in the coming days as parties try to bridge the divide between those demanding a concrete timeline for ending coal, oil, and gas and those advocating for more flexible language.
