COP30 climate talks deadlocked amid fossil fuel rift

Fights over fossil fuels and money appear to have stalled the COP30 climate talks, as negotiations continued through the night.

Negotiations were due to end at 6:00 p.m. local time (9:00 p.m. GMT) on Friday – and with many delegates leaving, time is running out to reach an agreement.

Host Brazil had hoped countries would agree on how to move away from fossil fuels, but a draft agreement released Friday morning did not mention coal, oil and gas, whose emissions are the main cause of climate change.

This was unacceptable for a group of countries, including the UK, while some poorer countries want stronger cash commitments to help them cope with rising temperatures.

A closing – or “plenary” – meeting is currently scheduled for 11:00 a.m. local time (2:00 p.m. GMT).

All countries present at these annual climate negotiations must come together to reach an agreement.

This can be difficult. Different nations have competing priorities, based for example on their dependence on fossil fuels, their economic situation or their vulnerability to climate change.

As a result, the conference usually runs over schedule, sometimes by more than a day.

But two-thirds of the signatory countries to the UN climate convention must be present for decisions to be made, according to UN rules.

And with many delegates leaving in the coming hours, time is running out for countries to reach an agreement.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva hoped the negotiations would result in clearer measures on how countries could move away from coal, oil and gas.

“The world needs a clear roadmap to end its dependence on fossil fuels,” he said before the negotiations.

This would advance an agreement reached two years ago, at COP28 in the United Arab Emirates, where countries agreed on the need to “move away from fossil fuels in energy systems”.

The idea of ​​a “road map” had been supported by dozens of countries, including the United Kingdom, but strongly opposed by oil-producing countries.

Some of these countries argue that they should be allowed to exploit their fossil fuel reserves as others have done in the past.

And they have often called for a focus on reducing emissions, rather than fossil fuels themselves, through technologies such as carbon capture.

Many scientists have criticized this approach because it fails to tackle the problem at the source.

Some developing countries have not supported the fossil fuel deal because they want richer countries to provide money first to help them adapt to the impacts of climate change. The richest countries have historically failed to keep their promises.

Poorer countries have repeatedly called for greater support, arguing that they face the worst impacts of climate change despite bearing relatively little responsibility for rising temperatures.

The latest version of the agreement, released Friday morning, contains no mention of fossil fuels, which is considered unacceptable by many countries.

Britain’s Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary Ed Miliband said on Friday he was determined to keep the plan for a road map away from fossil fuels “alive, one way or another”.

The draft agreement included a call for efforts to triple the funding available to countries by 2030, to help them adapt to climate change.

But he did not specify whether this should come from the governments of wealthier countries or from other sources, such as the private sector.

Despite its desire for a more ambitious fossil fuel deal, Brazil is facing scrutiny for its own plans.

Its offshore oil and gas production is on track to increase until the early 2030s, according to analysis shared with the BBC by campaign group Global Witness.

The forecast is based on data from respected analysts Rystad Energy, who confirmed the figures.

But President Lula has repeatedly defended fossil fuel development, saying oil revenues can help finance Brazil’s transition to cleaner energy.

It also highlighted its ability to significantly reduce deforestation rates in the Amazon rainforest.

Before the negotiations, President Lula launched a fund to try to prevent the loss of the world’s tropical forests.

But convincing nations to commit to the fund has proven difficult.