The COP30 climate talks in Brazil have reached a tentative deal
after negotiators resolved a protracted standoff over action to cut
greenhouse gas emissions and provide climate finance.
The two-week conference, billed as a chance to show that nations
can still join forces to tackle climate change despite the absence
of the United States, had been scheduled to end on Friday but
dragged into overtime.
The European Union had been pressing for language on the move
away from fossil fuels, but had come up against stiff resistance
from the Arab Group of nations including top oil exporter Saudi
Arabia.
The impasse was resolved after all-night negotiations led by host
nation Brazil, according to negotiators.
A draft deal issued on Saturday showed countries had agreed on
steps to help speed up climate action, review related trade
barriers, and triple the money given to developing countries to
help them withstand extreme weather events.
The European Union’s climate commissioner, Wopke Hoekstra, said
on Saturday that the proposed accord was acceptable, even though
the bloc would have liked more.
“We should support it because at least it is going in the right
direction,” he said.
The Brazilian presidency scheduled a closing plenary session. Any
deal needs a consensus to be approved.
COP30 President Andre Correa do Lago said on Saturday that the
presidency would publish a side text on fossil fuels as well as on
protecting forests – instead of adding them to the official
agreement – as there had been no consensus on these issues at the
global climate talks.
“I will announce that the Brazilian presidency will do the two
‘roadmaps’ because visibly we did not have maturity to reach
consensus. I believe if we do it under the presidency we will have
results,” he said.
The decision to triple climate finance by 2035, meanwhile, will
be part of the COP30 agreement, resolving a key demand from poorer
nations struggling to cope with climate impacts.
Separately, a Leaders’ Declaration from a G20 meeting in South
Africa stressed the seriousness of climate change, in a snub to
U.S. President Donald Trump.