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BELÉM, BRAZIL — All references to fossil fuels, the single largest driver of global climate change have been removed from the latest draft agreement under negotiation at the COP30 UN climate summit, sparking alarm among countries pushing for stronger action.
The negotiations, involving nearly 200 nations, are entering their final stretch. Draft texts at COP summits typically undergo multiple revisions, as any final deal requires unanimous approval from all participating states.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, along with countries such as the UK, had urged the summit to commit to rapid, intensified reductions in fossil fuel use. An earlier version of the agreement outlined three possible pathways to phase down fossil fuels, but that language was dropped following resistance from major oil-producing countries.
Climate Finance Tensions Resurface
The draft text also addresses the long-standing shortfall in climate finance for developing countries ,those most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. It calls for tripling global financing available to nations by 2030 but does not specify whether the burden should fall on wealthier nations or financial markets and private investors.
This omission is likely to frustrate poorer countries, many of which sharply criticised last year’s COP29 agreement in Baku, Azerbaijan, as insufficient and failing to meet their needs.
Deforestation Language Weakened
Despite being held on the edge of the Amazon, the conference has also produced a weaker stance on deforestation in the latest draft. Environmental advocates say the diluted language fails to reflect the urgency of protecting one of the world’s most critical ecosystems.
“For a COP hosted in the Amazon, it’s shattering that deforestation is taking a back seat,” said Kelly Dent, Director of External Engagement at World Animal Protection. “The wildlife and indigenous people who call the forest their home deserve better than this.”
Protests and Safety Incidents Disrupt Summit
The two-week event has been marked by disruptions, including two evacuations. Last week, protesters breached the venue carrying signs declaring, “Our forests are not for sale.” On Thursday, a fire damaged part of the summit structure, causing 13 cases of smoke inhalation and forcing a six-hour closure.
Despite the tensions, COP30 has been praised for bringing together the largest number of Indigenous delegates in the summit’s history, a move seen as essential to shaping fair and effective climate solutions.
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