EU clears path for joint COP30 closing statement in Belém - EU’s fossil fuel phase-out plan stalls at COP30 amid fierce opposition
The EU again faced resistance from major oil-producing nations over plans to phase out fossil fuels. At the UN Climate Conference COP30 in Belém, disagreements flared between the bloc and countries including China, India, Saudi Arabia, and Russia. The talks centered on cutting greenhouse gas emissions and shifting away from coal, oil, and gas. The EU delegation arrived in Belém with a clear agenda: pushing for stronger global commitments to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Led by the Danish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the bloc took a firm stance in negotiations. Luxembourg’s Environment Minister Serge Wilmes played a key role in discussions on the Global Stocktake, a review mechanism under the Paris Agreement. Dutch EU Climate Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra also spoke on behalf of the EU during the conference. The bloc’s proposals, however, met opposition from several large economies. China, India, Saudi Arabia, and Russia all resisted the EU’s roadmap for a fossil fuel phase-out. This clash mirrored earlier tensions between the EU and oil-dependent nations. While the EU sought binding measures to accelerate the transition to cleaner energy, opponents argued for a slower or more flexible approach. The negotiations highlighted deep divisions over how quickly the world should abandon coal, oil, and gas. The Belém talks ended with no immediate resolution on the EU’s phase-out plans. The opposition from key nations leaves the future of stricter emissions targets uncertain. The conference exposed ongoing challenges in aligning global climate policies with the interests of fossil fuel producers.
