After overtime, countries at the UN climate summit Cop30 in Belém, Brazil, have agreed on a deal. The agreement lacks a roadmap for phasing out fossil fuels, despite demands from the EU and over 80 countries. Criticism is sharp from experts and environmental groups who view it as a disappointment for climate goals.
The Cop30 climate summit in Belém, Brazil, concluded on November 22, 2025, after 13 days of negotiations that ran overtime due to disagreements and a fire in the venue. Countries agreed on tripling adaptation finance for developing nations, but the target is delayed until 2035—five years later than proposed.
A key element is missing: a clear roadmap for phasing out fossil fuels. The EU, Sweden, and over 80 countries pushed for it, but oil states like Saudi Arabia, India, and Brics nations blocked it. Fossil fuels are not mentioned at all in the final text, unlike Cop28 in Dubai. Brazil supports a non-UN initiative with around 90 countries for phase-out, similar to a deforestation plan.
Climate and Environment Minister Romina Pourmokhtari (L) calls the deal a 'disappointment' and 'a step to the side,' neither forward nor backward. 'We miss sharper wording on phasing out fossil fuels,' she says. Karin Lexén, secretary general of the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation, describes it as 'a major disappointment' that will hit the most vulnerable countries harder by the climate crisis.
Climate policy expert Björn-Ola Linnér from Linköping University says Saudi Arabia 'ruined the party' and that the agreement is 'a very weak compromise.' Johan Rockström, professor at Stockholm University, labels it 'a very big defeat' as global emissions continue to rise. EU Parliamentarian Emma Wiesner (C) points to oil countries' dominance and calls for stronger EU leadership at next year's Cop in Turkey.
Despite shortcomings, the deal reaffirms prior Paris Agreement and UAE consensus commitments. The US did not participate, and Colombia protested the lack of a fossil plan. Experts warn the world is heading toward 2.5–3 degrees warming without more ambitious action.
