Belem [Brazil], November 23 (ANI): The COP30 climate summit in Belem closed with a compromise agreement that expands financial support for developing nations but avoids any reference to phasing out fossil fuels, CNN reported. Brazil, which held the COP30 presidency, pushed the deal through after two weeks of tense and extended negotiations among representatives of more than 190 countries. The United States did not send an official delegation to the summit, which ended on Saturday.
India extended strong support to Brazil, praising the COP30 presidency for its inclusive approach and for steering challenging negotiations with fairness. In a “High-level Statement” delivered at the Closing Plenary of the UNFCCC COP30 in Belem, known as the gateway to the Amazon, India welcomed several significant decisions adopted at the conference.
The statement expressed India’s gratitude to the COP President for his leadership, noting it was rooted in inclusion, balance, and the “Brazilian spirit of Mutirão,” and guided COP30 with integrity. India also highlighted that discussions on the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) finally acknowledged the overwhelming need for adaptation finance across the Global South.
Despite pressure from the EU, Colombia, Panama, and Uruguay, the final package avoided any mention of fossil fuels — the largest driver of global warming.
Colombia warned that “a consensus imposed under climate denialism is a failed agreement,” while Panama said a deal that does not even name fossil fuels amounts to “complicity.” Juan Carlos Monterrey Gomez, Panama’s special representative for climate change, said, “Science has been deleted from COP30 because it offends the polluters. A ‘Forest COP’ with no commitment on forests is a very bad joke. A climate decision that cannot even say ‘fossil fuels’ is not neutrality, it is complicity. And what is happening here transcends incompetence.”
Saudi Arabia, Russia, and other fossil-fuel-dependent nations opposed any language on transitioning away from oil, gas, or coal.
COP30 President Andre Correa do Lago acknowledged the disagreements and said the presidency would issue separate documents on fossil fuel transition and forest protection, keeping them outside the official deal due to the lack of consensus, CNN reported. He urged countries to continue negotiations beyond COP30.
Under the new agreement, developed countries are urged to triple climate finance for poorer nations by 2035, particularly for adaptation to rising seas, extreme heat, and intensifying storms.
The absence of a U.S. delegation drew questions about the state of multilateral climate cooperation, CNN reported. (ANI)
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