According to a report, Germany and around 30 other countries threatened not to agree to a joint final declaration at the world climate summit in Belém, Brazil, if the declaration did not include a concrete roadmap for phasing out fossil fuels. In the letter, quoted by the AFP news agency, the signatories expressed “deep concern about the proposal, which is currently under review” and is based on a “take it or leave it” approach.
According to the report, the letter was submitted by Colombia, Germany, France and the UK, among others. France and Belgium confirmed the signing. According to information, fossil energy is not mentioned in the latest draft text made by COP President André Corrêa do Lago, as reported unanimously by AFP and Reuters news agency.
“Let’s be honest: in its current form, the proposal does not even meet the minimum requirements for a credible COP outcome,” AFP quoted from the states’ letter. “We cannot support any outcome that does not provide a roadmap for implementing a just, orderly and just transition away from fossil fuels.”
The Brazilian president did not want to set a time limit
The schedule was initially proposed by Brazil’s head of state Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and was one of the central topics in the two-week negotiations.
But on Wednesday, Lula dropped the demands. He said that countries should stop using climate-damaging energy according to the “opportunities” they have. This should be done “without telling anyone anything, without setting a deadline.”
Federal Environment Minister Schneider (SPD) also expressed his criticism of the agreement. Previous commitments to reduce CO₂ emissions are not enough, he said on the sidelines of the climate conference. “We want to move away from combustion technology,” Schneider told radio station Bayern 2. After 2050, no gas or oil should be used.
The fire disrupted a crucial phase of negotiations
On Thursday, negotiations in Belem were interrupted by a fire at the conference site. In the middle of a crucial phase of negotiations, tens of thousands of conference participants had to temporarily evacuate to a safe place. Later that day, the fire department cleared the area again. The meeting is scheduled to officially end on Friday.
