The Brazilian presidency of COP30 approved, this Saturday (22), a compromise climate agreement that would boost funding for poor nations dealing with global warming, but which omitted any mention of fossil fuels that drive it.
The agreement, which was reached after the deadline, over two weeks of controversial negotiations in Belém, exposed deep disagreements on how future climate action should be conducted. Several countries opposed ending the summit without stronger plans to control greenhouse gases or address fossil fuels.
Part of the criticism came from Brazil’s neighbors in Latin America, with multiple objections made by Colombia, Panama and Uruguay before Correa do Lago suspended the plenary for further consultations.
The three countries said they had no objections to the general political agreement of COP30, but rather to one of the other, more technical, negotiation texts that countries should approve at the end of the summit, together with the main agreement.
As tensions increased after the COP30 closing plenary resumed, when Russian delegate Sergei Kononuchenko asked Latin American representatives “so they don’t behave like children” when defending the presidency of COP30, reflecting divisions over the results and negotiation process at the climate summit in Belém. His comment was quickly refuted by the Argentine delegate, Eliana Saissac.
“It’s an agreement that everyone was able to accept in the end. And that’s what a UN process has to do. It has to reach consensus,” said Michael Jacobs, Senior Researcher at ODI Global. “But very few countries are satisfied… The overall goal of adaptation is inconsistent, [e] the mitigation work plan had no mention of fossil fuels.” He noted a disillusionment and widespread dissent from various nations.
The summit also launched a voluntary initiative to accelerate climate action to help nations meet their existing pledges to reduce emissions, and calls on rich nations at least triple the amount of money they provide to help developing countries adapt to a warming world until 2035.
Developing countries argue that they need urgently for funds to adapt to impacts that are already occurring, such as rising sea levels and worsening heat waves, droughts, floods and storms.
Correa do Lago said on Saturday morning that the presidency was issuing a parallel text on fossil fuels – as well as on forest protection – keeping it out of the main agreement due to lack of consensus. But he urged countries to continue to discuss the questions.
