Oil-producing countries have made their position clear in international climate talks again. The latest draft from COP30, shared on the last day of the summit, takes out any mention of phasing out fossil fuels.
This topic was one of the biggest points of contention at this year’s summit, which took place over two weeks in Belem, Brazil, close to the Amazon.
A previous version of the text included different options for cutting down hydrocarbon use.
Many nations, like Germany, Kenya, and vulnerable island states, wanted a clear ‘roadmap’ to follow COP28’s promise for a ‘gradual reduction’ in fossil fuel use.
Even though oil, coal, and natural gas are key contributors to climate change, COP28 was the first time fossil fuels were specifically mentioned after 30 years of talks.
This year, though, Saudi Arabia and other oil-producing nations refused to discuss a roadmap, according to officials who talked to Reuters. In the text shared by the Brazilian presidency early Friday morning, all mentions of fossil fuels were gone.
The draft can still be changed and needs unanimous approval from nearly 200 countries to be finalized.
On Thursday, the summit’s presidency held discussions with major negotiating groups after a fire broke out at the venue, briefly stopping talks. Although COP30 is set to end on Friday, it might stretch into the weekend, as often happens.
Funding and Trade Policies
The new text aims to triple funds by 2030 to help poor countries adapt to climate change impacts compared to 2025 levels. However, it does not specify if this money will come from government funding or other sources—something that may upset poorer nations.
Investments in adaptation projects, like stronger infrastructure against extreme weather events, are crucial but often offer low returns, which discourages private sector investment.
Additionally, the plan suggests that over the next three COPs there will be talks about the role of international trade in climate change with input from the World Trade Organization. This discussion has been a long-standing request from countries like China but may put pressure on the EU since its carbon border tax is often targeted.
