COP30 reaches climate deal but skips fossil fuels

November 24, 2025

Brazil’s COP30 presidency secured a compromise climate agreement on Saturday, advancing financial support for vulnerable nations confronting the worsening effects of global warming—yet avoiding any reference to the fossil fuels driving the crisis. With this deal, Brazil sought to showcase global cooperation on climate action despite the absence of an official U.S. delegation, a notable gap given America’s status as the world’s largest historical emitter.

While many negotiators left disappointed, the head of the U.N. climate body (UNFCCC) applauded countries for finding common ground in what he described as a year marked by denial and deep divisions.
“We may not be winning the climate battle yet, but we are undeniably still fighting, and we are pushing back,” UNFCCC Executive Secretary Simon Stiell said.

The agreement emerged after two intense weeks of negotiations in Belém, deep in the Amazon, revealing sharp disagreements over the direction of future global climate efforts. Exhausted, Brazilian COP30 President André Corrêa do Lago acknowledged the contentious process as he finalized the accord.
“We understand that some of you hoped for stronger outcomes on critical issues,” he said.

Several nations criticized the summit for failing to provide stronger commitments to reduce greenhouse gases or confront the role of fossil fuels. Colombia, Panama, and Uruguay voiced repeated objections before Corrêa do Lago temporarily suspended the plenary session for consultations. When negotiations resumed an hour later, he confirmed that the previously approved decisions would stand.

Colombia’s negotiator emphasized that fossil fuels are the primary source of global warming emissions and said her country could not endorse a deal that overlooked scientific evidence.
“A consensus forced under climate denialism is a failed agreement,” she said.

Russia’s delegate, Sergei Kononuchenko, accused dissenting countries of “behaving like children who want all the sweets,” triggering strong backlash from several Latin American representatives who found the remarks offensive and defended their efforts to protect national interests.

Notably, the objections from the three Latin American countries targeted a technical negotiating document rather than the broader political deal. They, alongside the EU, pushed for explicit language calling for a transition away from fossil fuels—opposed by oil-producing states including Saudi Arabia. After prolonged overnight talks, the EU chose not to block the final package, though it voiced clear dissatisfaction.

“We should support the deal because it at least moves in the right direction,” said EU climate commissioner Wopke Hoekstra.

Finance commitments strengthened

The agreement also establishes a voluntary initiative to accelerate climate action and urges wealthier nations to triple their financial support for climate adaptation in developing countries by 2035. Many vulnerable nations stress that they require immediate funding as they deal with rising seas, severe heat waves, droughts, floods, and increasingly intense storms.

Avinash Persaud, Special Advisor to the President of the Inter-American Development Bank, welcomed the focus on climate finance but warned of persistent gaps.
“My concern is the lack of rapid-release grants for countries already suffering loss and damage. The need is urgent, even if difficult,” he said.

Some countries—including Sierra Leone—objected to the final list of indicators they’re expected to track in areas such as food security and climate preparedness. Sierra Leone’s climate minister, Jiwoh Emmanuel Abdulai, argued that the indicators were “unclear, unmeasurable, and in many cases unusable,” noting they did not reflect expert guidance.

Side text on fossil fuels and forest protection

A major standoff between the EU and the Arab Group over fossil fuel language pushed negotiations past Friday’s deadline, requiring all-night discussions before a compromise emerged. Corrêa do Lago announced that the presidency would issue separate side texts addressing fossil fuels and forest protection—excluded from the main agreement due to lack of consensus—while encouraging nations to continue talks on these critical issues.

The final agreement also initiates a review process on how global trade policies can be aligned with climate goals, amid concerns that emerging trade barriers could slow the adoption of clean technologies.