Climate summit argues about ending oil, gas and coal

Climate conference

Climate summit argues about ending oil, gas and coal

War of words, incendiary letters and protests: the climate conference in Belém is on the brink. Will the extension still bring a breakthrough?

The World Climate Conference has been extended due to a heated dispute over a timetable for moving away from oil, gas and coal. Germany and a broad alliance of other countries are calling for more ambition in climate protection, while poorer countries are calling for more money to adapt to global warming.

Be it meetings in large groups or intensive discussions in small groups – nothing brought a breakthrough at the meeting of around 200 countries in Belém, Brazil. UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that people around the world were watching. “You’ve heard enough excuses. You demand results.”

The two-week deliberations were officially due to end at 6:00 p.m. local time (10:00 p.m. CET) on Friday. Even in recent years, the meetings have always been extended by hours or even days.

The Brazilian President of the World Climate Conference, André Corrêa do Lago, emphasized that it is not about winning or losing, but about a consensus among almost all countries in the world, which has value in itself. “The world is watching us,” he said. If no agreement is reached, this will play into the hands of the opponents of multilateralism, i.e. international cooperation. In this context, he specifically mentioned the USA, which had stayed away from the conference.

Germany and dozens of other countries started the final phase of the climate summit with tough announcements and an incendiary letter. What is needed is a clear roadmap to move away from the climate-damaging burning of oil, gas and coal, says the letter to the Brazilian conference management supported by the federal government. “We cannot support any outcome that does not provide a roadmap for an orderly and equitable transition away from fossil fuels.”

A draft text for possible decisions that the Brazilian presidency published on Friday morning caused a lot of anger. Germany, the EU and others announced that they would not accept the paper under any circumstances. Hours before the conference was extended, Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider emphasized that “tough negotiations” were to be expected.

Oxfam expert Jan Kowalzig said India and China need to be convinced of the idea of ​​a plan to phase out fossil fuels, called the COP30 roadmap. It is also important to isolate rich oil states like Saudi Arabia “so that they can no longer stand in the way.” They have blocking power because unanimous decisions are necessary.

Poorer countries and emerging countries point to the responsibility of industrialized countries as the main cause of current global warming. They fear that too much speed in climate protection will harm their chances of economic development. Oil producing countries, on the other hand, want to secure their business model.