Kathmandu – As global climate talks in Belem, Brazil, move into their final stretch, negotiations have become increasingly tense. The latest draft agreement at COP30 noticeably avoids laying out a clear roadmap for phasing out fossil fuels and many countries say that’s a deal-breaker.
More than 30 nations have already signed a joint letter warning they won’t support the draft unless it includes a concrete plan to wind down fossil fuel use. The group includes European nations, climate-vulnerable island states, and several developing countries who argue that without a roadmap, the agreement is little more than empty words.
COP30 President Andre Correa do Lago urged countries to stay cooperative, warning that a breakdown in talks would harm everyone. Although the current draft calls for tripling adaptation finance, critics say it still lacks clarity about where the money will come from and how it will be distributed.
On the other side of the dispute are major fossil-fuel-producing countries, notably Saudi Arabia, Russia, and India — which have strongly pushed back against including a phase-out plan. Environmental groups and many governments argue that without it, the summit risks making no meaningful contribution to climate action or justice.
While there has been progress on issues like climate finance, adaptation, and emissions reduction, the deadlock over fossil fuels now threatens to overshadow the entire summit. With time running out, the question remains: can negotiators find common ground before COP30 concludes?
