URGENT UPDATE: 350.org has just announced that the second draft of COP30 decisions, released this morning, falls significantly short in addressing the urgent need for a fossil fuel phaseout and adequate climate finance. Despite a growing global momentum for a comprehensive roadmap to end fossil fuel reliance, the draft lacks essential commitments.
“This morning’s draft COP30 decisions fall far short of the giant leap needed to close the climate ambition gap,” stated Andreas Sieber, Associate Director of Policy and Campaigns at 350.org. He emphasized the absence of a clear plan to phase out fossil fuels, stating that without such a strategy, the world is merely “fanning the flames” of the climate crisis.
The draft includes a Just Transition Mechanism, a significant multilateral achievement, but Sieber warns that it is insufficient without a robust transition plan. Furthermore, the text reveals a weakened commitment to triple adaptation support, leaving vulnerable communities without the urgent assistance they require. “We can’t achieve justice on the cheap,” Sieber added.
Fenton Lutunatabua, 350.org Pacific Team Lead, expressed deep concern over the lack of clarity regarding fossil fuels in the draft. “We’re walking a fine line here between survival and climate catastrophe,” he said. He noted that the absence of a fossil fuel phaseout plan casts a shadow over the proceedings in Belém and emphasized the need for a final COP30 outcome that is just, equitable, and aligned with climate science.
Despite over 80 countries publicly supporting a Transition Away from Fossil Fuels Roadmap (TAFF), the draft’s mitigation section does not mention fossil fuels. Instead, it relies on weak voluntary initiatives and vague plans to reduce oil, gas, and coal usage. Lutunatabua highlighted the urgency of addressing the root causes of the climate crisis and ramping up necessary financing for adaptation efforts.
The proposed finance package falls short as well, failing to provide a clear delivery plan for the new collective quantified goal (NCQG). There is also a lack of progress on innovative finance measures, direct access for Indigenous Peoples, and clarity on financial contributors. Alarmingly, the reference to ending inefficient fossil fuel subsidies has disappeared from the draft.
While the launch of the Just Transition Mechanism is a positive development, 350.org insists that without a comprehensive fossil fuel phaseout plan and substantial financial commitments, the world continues to add fuel to the fire.
As COP30 negotiations progress, 350.org is urging all parties to match global momentum and deliver a final agreement that incorporates finance, adaptation, and a clear roadmap for transitioning away from fossil fuels. “Without all three, the deal cannot hold,” the organization warns.
The urgency of these discussions cannot be overstated, as delays could have catastrophic consequences for communities already facing the impacts of climate change. With the clock ticking, the world is watching closely as nations gather in Belém to respond to the climate crisis with the ambition and urgency it demands.
