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COP30 came to its conclusion and it was a sobering and stark reminder of the huge issues happening within the UN Climate Change Conference process.
The final text which was agreed had NO reference to fossil fuels. No mention of oil, gas or coal, the biggest cause of climate change. The reason for this was the pressure from Saudi Arabia and other fossil fuel producing states including Russia. This group of nations who managed to shape the final text were in the minority and there were many nations who pushed back against this omission. Colombia was the main instigator and highlighted that the removal of references to fossil fuels was a failure to science and society. There can be no credible COP outcome if the phase out of fossil fuels is ignored.
The First International Conference for the Phase Out of Fossil Fuels
The Brazilian presidency tabled a roadmap proposal at the 11th hour to try and ensure the fossil fuel issue will be tackled, although not in the formal text. Brazil’s president stated at the closing plenary “We know some of you had greater ambition for some of the issues at hand, I will try not to disappoint you.” Drafting of this roadmap will begin at the First International Conference for the Phase Out of Fossil Fuels which is being convened by Colombia and the Netherlands in April 2026. This could be a way out of this situation. UN processes state that agreements on texts must be unanimous, but this new conference will be outside of the UN. It will enable countries (who want to) to progress on fossil fuel phaseout. It could also be an opportunity to create trading blocs and sanctions for those countries who choose not to participate.
On financing, it was agreed that climate adaptation finance would triple by 2035. This shone a light on the adaptation finance gap and the need for developed countries to increase their support to developing nations. But much like the biodiversity COP in Colombia last year, no finance mechanisms were identified. Who will pay and through what mechanisms?
Alarmingly, during COP (but at a different G20 summit), Ursula Von Der leyen, President of the European Commission made an announcement stating, “we are not fighting against fossil fuels, we are fighting against the emissions from fossil fuels.” This nonsensical statement coming from the Commission in the light of the current simplification agenda is extremely worrying and undermines EU negotiations at COP.
While the final result failed to acknowledge the extreme urgency of the climate crisis situation we are in, there was strong ambition from many countries to continue working together on a transition away from fossil fuels. There is growing pressure and momentum coming from different countries across the globe. Let’s hope it’s not too late
Grace Carr
Marine Advocacy Officer
Image: www.freepik.com