The Swedish delegation at the COP30 climate summit in Belém strongly criticizes the draft agreement released early Friday. The draft lacks mentions of fossil fuels and ambitious emissions reductions, sparking anger from the EU and several countries. Negotiations are in their final stage, but nations remain far apart on several key issues.
The COP30 climate summit in Belém, Brazil, has entered its final negotiations phase. Early Friday, Brazil's presidency released a draft agreement described as the first complete text without brackets. The EU, negotiating for Sweden, is dissatisfied with the proposal, especially regarding emissions reductions.
State Secretary Helena Dyrssen, leading Sweden's talks alongside chief negotiator Mattias Frumerie, calls the draft insufficiently ambitious. 'The big problem is that there are not sufficiently good proposals on emissions reduction,' she says. Dyrssen stresses EU unity and combativeness: 'As I assess it, the EU will not be able to support this draft. There is strong fighting spirit from the EU.' Frumerie agrees, noting the text is too weak on emissions cuts, but emphasizes time remains for talks.
A key dispute concerns phasing out fossil fuels. The draft omits any mention of fossil fuels, despite support from over 80 countries earlier in the week. Nations like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iran, and Bolivia oppose a roadmap, with some threatening to walk out Thursday. Around 30 countries, including Sweden, signed a letter refusing to back the text without a 'roadmap to implement a just, orderly, and equitable transition away from fossil fuels.' Dyrssen states: 'The EU is very keen to agree on deciding a roadmap, but we are not there yet.'
Other critical points include adaptation finance, aimed to triple to $120 billion annually by 2030 but only urged in the draft; indicators for the global adaptation goal; national climate plans (NDCs) due in 2025, with 80 countries yet to submit; and broader climate finance, including the Baku–Belém roadmap for $1.3 trillion yearly by 2035. Climate group Oil Change International accuses the EU of blocking progress due to inadequate financial commitments. Anger and disappointment dominate, with Ursula von der Leyen stating in South Africa that the EU 'is not fighting against fossil fuels.'
