The United Nations climate summit in Belem has reached its decisive final day, with exhausted delegates working against the clock to secure an agreement on transitioning away from fossil fuels.
Last-Minute Negotiations Intensify
As the Cop30 conference enters its crucial closing phase, ministers are believed to have negotiated through the early hours in a bid to bridge significant gaps between nations. The scheduled closing plenary was set to begin at 10am local time (1pm GMT), though organisers acknowledge timings remain fluid at this tense stage of proceedings.
Cop30 president Andre Correa do Lago was spotted in intense discussions, photographed whispering into his phone as he arrived at the venue. The pressure is mounting on him and his negotiating team to find common ground among deeply divided countries.
Key Sticking Points and Positions
Substantial disagreements persist regarding the creation of a roadmap to move away from fossil fuels. The UK's Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has taken a firm stance, declaring that an agreement needs to happen 'one way or another' - even if it means establishing a voluntary process rather than a mandatory framework.
Observers report that the Arab group of nations has issued a stark warning, suggesting that any mention of phasing out fossil fuels in the final negotiations could cause the entire talks to collapse. This position contrasts sharply with vulnerable nations, with one representative from a climate-threatened country expressing frustration: 'Sometimes it's like we are arguing with robots.'
Meanwhile, African governments continue to push for a tripling of financial support from wealthy nations to help poorer countries adapt to climate impacts.
Looking Ahead to Future Summits
Amid the tense negotiations, some progress has been made regarding future climate conferences. Turkey and Australia have finalised arrangements for next year's Cop31 summit, which will be hosted in Turkey. Under the agreement, Turkey will assume the Cop31 presidency while Australia's energy minister Chris Bowen will serve as vice-president and 'president of negotiations'.
Laurence Tubiana, the architect of the landmark Paris climate agreement, has encouraged countries not to fear pursuing a comprehensive deal on the transition roadmap, suggesting that ambition should not be tempered by political concerns.
With return flights looming and fatigue setting in among delegates, the coming hours will determine whether Cop30 can deliver the meaningful commitment to fossil fuel transition that many climate-vulnerable nations are desperately seeking.
