Countries at Cop30 still far apart on fossil fuel transition and carbon cuts

Climate crisis talks in Brazil appeared to be set to stretch into the weekend yesterday, with countries still far apart on the crucial issues of phasing out fossil fuels and cutting carbon.

- Fiona Harvey Environment editor

André Corrêa do Lago, president of the talks, urged ministers and high-ranking officials from more than 190 countries to find common ground: “We need to preserve this regime [of the Paris climate agreement] with the spirit of cooperation, not in the spirit of who is going to win or is willing to lose. Because we know if we don't strengthen this, everybody will lose.”

But on the core issue of a “transition away from fossil fuels”, no agreement looked likely and the conference has split into two large blocks. More than 80 developed and developing countries have called for the conference to begin a process of drawing up a roadmap for the transition, which would allow all governments to pursue self-chosen measures and timetables towards the eventual goal.