The COP30 climate summit in Belém, Brazil, has gone into overtime as no agreement on phasing out fossil fuels has been reached. The new draft decision lacks clear commitments on coal, oil, and gas, drawing sharp criticism from countries like Germany and environmental groups. Negotiators warn of a summit ending without results.
The COP30 in Belém, Brazil, was set to conclude on Friday at 6 p.m. local time, but talks have been extended. The core dispute concerns fossil fuels: More than 80 states, including Germany, demand a roadmap for phasing out coal, oil, and gas. The new seven-page draft decision references the 1.5°C limit and the need to drastically cut greenhouse gas emissions but does not mention "fossil" once and includes no such roadmap.
German Environment Minister Carsten Schneider (SPD) stated the draft falls "far short" and "cannot remain" as is. "There will be tough negotiations," he said, emphasizing: "The Earth needs concrete measures: expanding renewables, out of fossils." EU Climate Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra warned: "What is on the table now is unacceptable," and did not rule out an end "without agreement." "We are really facing a scenario without agreement."
About 30 states, including Germany, France, the UK, and Colombia, threatened in a Thursday letter to reject any decision without a phase-out plan. "In its current form, the proposal does not even meet the minimum conditions for a credible COP outcome," it stated. French Ecological Transition Minister Monique Barbut identified oil producers like Russia, India, and Saudi Arabia as main blockers, joined by some developing countries. Developing nations also criticize climate finance provisions.
Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva had proposed a phase-out but later stressed it should occur according to "capabilities," without deadlines. COP30 President André Corrêa do Lago urged: "This must not be an agenda that divides us. We must reach an agreement." Environmental groups like Greenpeace, WWF, and Oxfam view the draft as a "political failure" and cynical disregard of the debate. Greenpeace's Martin Kaiser said: "It ignores in a cynical way the main debate of the last two weeks." WWF's Viviane Raddatz expressed disappointment but noted "there is still time" for improvement. Oxfam's Jan Kowalzig warned of a failure.
Talks were interrupted Thursday by a fire that evacuated the venue. Friday, police reported security irregularities, including illegal firms. No COP has ended on time since 2003; experts expect negotiations into Saturday. Decisions require consensus among about 190 states.