Statement by Emilia Belliveau, Program Manager, Energy Transiton, Environmental Defence

Belém, Brazil – Ministers and officials representing nations from every continent received a standing ovation this morning as Colombia announced the Belém Declaration on the Just Transition Away from Fossil Fuels and the first multilateral conference specifically focused on phasing out fossil fuels, which will be held next year. Colombia, a nation with significant coal, oil and gas reserves, is showing real climate leadership by making the choice to prioritize humanity’s collective wellbeing by keeping its fossil fuels in the ground.

Every day at COP30 more nations have joined the call to move from acknowledgement to action on phasing out fossil fuels. There are now at least 88 nations supporting that want to see mention of roadmaps for transitioning away from fossil fuels included in the negotiation text. This incredible momentum reflects the urgency of the climate crisis and the reality of climate science, which affirms that fossil fuels are primarily responsible for global warming and that the burning of coal, oil, and gas must decline as quickly as possible.

Brazilian President Lula, along with nations and civil society groups from across the world, in particular those on the front lines of climate change’s destructive forces, have emphasized that now is the time to act and implement the solutions that are at our fingertips.

But Canada has spent much of its time at the negotiations sitting on its hands. Canada stayed hushed on the critical issues at the heart of this year’s negotiations, supported only the weakest options in the text, and failed to deliver its fair share of climate finance. Meanwhile, at home the federal government seems intent on building more reckless fossil fuel infrastructure, a stark contrast to the growing consensus among leading countries that action to phase out fossil fuels cannot wait.

The negotiations are in the home stretch. Canada still has time to stop being a climate laggard and instead be a constructive player by showing up in these final hours with support for a just transition package that establishes the Belém Action Mechanism, finance commitments aligned with global fairness, and support for moving from talk to action on the transition away from fossil fuels.

Background Information

  • While not initially on the COP Presidency’s agenda, interest quickly emerged on moving from text to action on the “transition away from fossil fuels” (TAFF). Brazilian President Lula championed the concept of “roadmaps” for fossil fuel phaseout and ending deforestation in the lead up to the negotiations, and enthusiasm from climate-leader parties moved to bring TAFF into the negotiation. It was dropped from the most recent Mutirão Agreement text, but the negotiations remain ongoing.
  • Throughout the two week climate negotiations, various proposals in support of phasing out fossil fuels have all been gaining momentum. New signatories joined the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. Colombia built support for its Belém Declaration and 2026 conference on fossil fuel phaseout. Eightyeight parties have spoken in favour of including roadmaps for TAFF in this year’s decision text. These complementary proposals seek to create both the political momentum and the institutional infrastructure for the long-term work required to transition away from fossil fuels “in a just, orderly and equitable manner, accelerating action in this critical decade”, as was agreed at COP28 in Dubai.
  • Colombia’s Minister of Environment, Irene Vélez Torres, and the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Climate Policy of the Netherlands, Sophie Hermans, hosted a press conference at 9:30am local time in Belém, to announce that 24 nations have joined Colombia’s Belém Declaration. It is a political declaration for a coalition of the willing that affirms the need for and aims to catalyze planning and coordination for the just transition to phase out fossil fuels.
  • Ministers and Special Envoys representing Colombia, the Netherlands, Vanuatu, Spain, Tuvalu, Slovenia, the Marshall Islands, Luxembourg, Panama, and Chile spoke at the press conference. Additional nations who have also endorsed Colombia’s declaration to date include Australia, Austria, Belgium, Cambodia, Costa Rica, Denmark, Fiji, Finland, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Mexico, Micronesia, Nepal.
  • Speakers highlighted that these initiatives are complementary to the UNFCCC process and Paris Agreement, and multiple speakers emphasized they would not support the current version of the negotiation text because it fails to move forward the transition away from fossil fuels.

ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

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For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

Alex Ross, Environmental Defence, media@environmentaldefence.ca