The UN Climate Change Conference will extend negotiations into a second day after representatives from more than 200 countries failed to agree on a draft deal proposed by the host nation of Brazil, which includes a reference to phasing out fossil fuel-use.
More than 80 nations, including Germany, are pushing for a plan to phase out fossil fuels, a move that received a major backlash from the oil-producing and consuming nations, including top economies like Russia, China, India, and Saudi Arabia.
Negotiators remained in closed-door meeting on Friday as they tried to bridge differences between the two sides.
Meanwhile, German Environment Minister Carsten Schneider, said his delegation was trying hard to forge a deal on the much-debated fossil fuels.
Earlier, COP30 President Andre Correa do Lago told delegates: “There cannot be an agenda that divides us. We must reach an agreement between us.”
Also Read: 30 nations oppose draft on fossil fuel emissions at COP30
Political consensus on climate protection, reducing global emissions, and establishing a roadmap to transition away from fossil fuels has remained elusive at COP30, which has now stretched into Saturday.
Wopke Hoekstra, the EU’s climate commissioner, strongly criticised some nation states for a lack of reference to fossil fuels in the draft deal text that was revealed on Friday.
“This is in no way close to the ambition we need on mitigation,” Hoekstra said.
He expressed disappointment with the text currently on the table, saying, “We are willing to be ambitious on adaptation.”
“The opposition and behaviour of certain countries to the deal is unacceptable and a disappointing development, despite knowing the importance of the deal,” he added.
The previous climate conference saw developed countries agree to provide $300 billion (€260 billion) a year in climate finance by 2035.