Backsliding in Belem

"The COP30 climate summit concluded on Saturday with a disappointing-even infuriating-agreement. In a diplomatic black eye for host country Brazil, what had been promoted as a summit of "truth" and "implementation" delivered little of either. When climate change is already imposing terrible suffering, when emissions are still increasing, and when 80 to 89 percent of the world's people want governments to take stronger action, COP30 left the climate fight at a standstill, if not backsliding."

"Money-who has it and who needs it-has been the sticking point at virtually every UN climate summit since such negotiations began here in Brazil with the 1992 Earth Summit, and it remained so at COP30. Divisions between haves and have-nots were as stark as ever, as was the power of fossil fuel interests. The result was an agreement that does not remotely align with science and leaves millions of people in frontline communities."

"Two years ago in Dubai, the world's governments endorsed "a transition away from fossil fuels"-the first time in 28 COP negotiations that fossil fuels, the primary driver of global warming, were explicitly named in the final text. But the words "fossil fuels" were missing from the agreement COP30 president Andre Correa do Lago gaveled through on November 22. Much less did the agreement endorse a "road map" for phasing out fossil fuels, as more than 80 countries, including Colombia, Germany, France,"

COP30 concluded with a disappointing agreement that delivered little of the promised 'truth' and 'implementation' and represented a diplomatic setback for Brazil. Emissions continue to increase while 80–89 percent of people want stronger government action, leaving the climate fight stalled or backsliding. Money remained the central sticking point, exposing stark divisions between wealthy and poor nations and the influence of fossil fuel interests. The final text did not align with scientific guidance and left frontline communities exposed to severe impacts with limited survival options. The agreement omitted 'fossil fuels' language and failed to endorse a roadmap for phasing them out, despite demands from more than 80 countries.

Read at The Nation