A dramatic showdown is unfolding at the COP30 climate summit in Brazil after the conference presidency released a draft final agreement that entirely removed references to a fossil fuel transition roadmap, setting the stage for a tense finale as nations clash over the future of oil, gas, and coal .
The most contentious issue at the two-week conference in Belem has been the future of fossil fuels. A draft text for a deal, released before dawn on Friday by the Brazilian presidency, contained no reference to fossil fuels, dropping a range of options on the subject that had been included in an earlier version . This omission is a direct blow to the efforts of dozens of nations who have been pushing hard for a "roadmap" that would lay out how countries should follow through on a promise made at COP28 two years ago to transition away from fossil fuels . The move has been criticized by many, with the EU's climate commissioner, Wopke Hoekstra, stating they are "disappointed with the text currently on the table," adding that it lacks ambition on action to cut emissions .
The deleted roadmap was intended to create a forum for discussing how to implement the historic transition away from fossil fuels pledged at COP28 in Dubai, though it would not have forced countries to sign up to a firm deadline . The decision to remove it has drawn a sharp response from a coalition of over 30 nations, including countries like Colombia, France, Germany, Kenya, and the Marshall Islands. In a letter to the COP30 presidency, they declared they "cannot support an outcome that does not include a roadmap" and that its absence would make the outcome unacceptable . Panama's negotiator, Juan Carlos Monterrey, warned that failing to name the cause of the climate crisis risks turning the talks into a "clown show" . Opposition to the roadmap has been led by Saudi Arabia and other oil-producing nations, with support from some large fossil fuel consumers like Russia and India .
Beyond the fossil fuel roadmap, the draft text includes other proposals that have sparked debate. It calls for global efforts to triple financing for climate adaptation by 2030 from 2025 levels but does not specify if the money will come directly from wealthy governments or other sources like development banks . This vagueness disappoints poorer nations who want stronger guarantees of public money, as adaptation investments are vital for saving lives but offer little financial return to attract private finance . The draft also proposes launching a "dialogue" on trade at future COP summits, which is seen as a win for China . This dialogue is expected to focus heavily on the European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), a levy on carbon-intensive imports that has been heavily criticized by countries like India, China, and South Africa, who argue it is a protectionist measure that could harm their economies and global trade .
With the conference officially scheduled to end on Friday, negotiations are now in a critical phase. Previous COP summits have often blown past their deadlines before eventually reaching a compromise . The final deal text requires approval by consensus from nearly 200 countries, making the path to an agreement highly uncertain . André Corrêa do Lago, the COP30 President, has made an urgent plea for unity, stating, "This cannot be an agenda that divides us. We must reach an agreement between us" . The coming hours will determine whether the world's governments can find a compromise or if the summit will end in a bitter stalemate over the central issue of fossil fuels.