The issue has been one of the most contentious at the two-week conference of nearly 200 governments in Brazil’s Amazon city of Belem. For days, nations have wrangled over the future of fossil fuels, whose burning emits greenhouse gases that are by far the largest contributor to global warming.
A first version of the draft deal earlier this week had contained a set of options for language on the subject. Dozens of nations including Germany, Kenya and low-lying island states have been pushing hard for a “roadmap” laying out how countries should follow through with a promise made at COP28 two years ago to transition away from fossil fuels.
Saudi Arabia and other oil-producing nations were opposing this, negotiators at COP30 told Reuters. The Saudi government communications office did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. In the text released before dawn on Friday, all mentions of fossil fuels had been dropped.
The text, which is still subject to further negotiation, would need approval by consensus in order to be adopted. Brazil’s COP30 presidency held consultations with key negotiating blocs on Thursday, after a fire at the summit venue forced an evacuation that disrupted talks for hours.
The conference is scheduled to finish later on Friday, though talks could run overtime into the weekend as is common at the world’s annual climate negotiations.
–Reuters–
