Failure at COP30: No New Promises on Fossil Fuels Amidst Climate Talks

Mon Nov 24 2025 11:02:05 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The UN climate summit COP30 in Belém, Brazil, concludes with disappointment as no commitments are made to phase out fossil fuels, highlighting divisions among nations regarding climate action.

The COP30 climate summit in Belém, Brazil, ended with a deal that failed to address fossil fuel commitments, disappointing over 80 countries pushing for stronger action. While some countries celebrated incremental progress, tensions rose as oil-producing nations resisted calls for a faster transition away from fossil fuels. The talks faced logistical challenges, including severe weather, culminating in a chaotic negotiation process.

The UN climate summit COP30 in Belém, Brazil, has drawn criticism for concluding without any concrete commitments on fossil fuels, emphasizing a divide among nations on climate action.

Despite the efforts of over 80 countries, including the UK and EU, which sought stricter measures to reduce reliance on oil, coal, and gas, the final accord overlooked these demands. Countries like Colombia voiced frustrations, pointing out that fossil fuels are responsible for a significant portion of greenhouse gas emissions.

The final agreement, known as the Mutirão, encourages nations to 'voluntarily' enhance their efforts to decrease fossil fuel usage, a point criticized by environmental advocates. Meanwhile, representatives from oil-rich countries maintained their stance on using fossil fuel resources for economic growth, complicating the negotiations.

This summit takes place as the UN grows increasingly concerned about the inadequacy of efforts to limit global temperature rises to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels. The absence of the US delegation—following its withdrawal from the Paris Accord—also left a vacuum in negotiations akin to a 'hole', affecting the dynamics significantly.

Despite the shortcomings, some participants found solace in the prevention of further regression in climate agreements. The talks were marred with logistical setbacks, harsh weather conditions, and even security breaches by protestors.

Brazil's choice of location for the summit aimed to bring attention to the Amazon rainforest, gathering at least $6.5 billion in pledges through the Tropical Forests Forever Facility to assist in forest protection initiatives. Yet, criticism also arose regarding Brazil's own oil drilling plans in the Amazon.

In conclusion, while the COP30 summit did not yield the desired fossil fuel commitments, it brought some acknowledgment of climate finance responsibilities, particularly for nations with historical emissions. Various perspectives emerged on what constitutes progress, leaving an ongoing discussion for future climate agreements.