COP30 climate talks end with more fizzle than bang – DW – 11

Two weeks of climate negotiations in the Brazilian city of Belem have closed with an agreement that calls for renewed commitments to tackle rising temperatures, yet omits any mention of fossil fuels.

A fortnight of marathon talks marked by Indigenous protests, the notable absence of the US — the world's second largest polluter — and a fire that forced a mass evacuation of the venue, have closed with a deal that many feel is weak given the scale of the climate crisis.

A main point of contention has been a road map to transition away from fossil fuels, the burning of which produces most of the emissions heating the planet and turbocharges extreme weather.

More than 80 countries — including Colombia, Germany and Kenya — had said a final deal would hinge on a concrete action plan to follow through on a previous hard-won pledge to shift beyond coal, oil and gas.

But the idea, which faced significant pushback from China, the Arab Group of nations, including petro-states such as Saudi Arabia, and others, did not make it into the final document.

Instead, the deal proposes a voluntary initiative to accelerate the implementation of national climate plans and encourage international cooperation to keep the Paris Agreement goal of 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) alive.

Countries also agreed to an annual dialogue to monitor progress toward keep