Brazil has fast-tracked negotiations at COP30 in Belém, producing an early draft that tackles fossil fuel phase-out, expanded climate finance for adaptation, and trade measures. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is returning to press negotiators as delegates work late to finalize a deal. The draft lays bare a sharp split between countries seeking a roadmap to exit coal, oil and gas and oil-producing states opposing stronger language. The outcome will depend on whether richer nations commit to a major increase in adaptation funding and whether delegates can bridge trade and fossil-fuel disagreements.
Lula Returns to COP30 as Brazil Fast-Tracks Push for Climate Breakthrough
Brazil has fast-tracked negotiations at COP30 in Belém, producing an early draft that tackles fossil fuel phase-out, expanded climate finance for adaptation, and trade measures. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is returning to press negotiators as delegates work late to finalize a deal. The draft lays bare a sharp split between countries seeking a roadmap to exit coal, oil and gas and oil-producing states opposing stronger language. The outcome will depend on whether richer nations commit to a major increase in adaptation funding and whether delegates can bridge trade and fossil-fuel disagreements.
02:02 AM, 11/19/2025Environment
Host nation Brazil intensified efforts on Tuesday to secure a rapid breakthrough at the UN climate summit in Belém, unveiling an accelerated timetable and producing an early draft agreement aimed at narrowing sharp divides over fossil fuels, climate finance and trade measures.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is set to make an unexpected return to Belém on Wednesday in a high-level push to help clinch a deal. After announcing the fast-tracked schedule, negotiators worked through the night to produce a first draft addressing trade measures, calls for substantially greater finance for poorer nations, and concerns about the inadequacy of national emissions pledges.
Delegates were warned there would be little respite on Wednesday, with diplomats expected to work late into the night to refine the proposals. Organizers signalled that the aim was to resolve the toughest outstanding issues by midweek, even if final decisions came very late in the day.
High-level pressure and mixed reactions
EU climate chief Wopke Hoekstra described the draft as "a mixed bag." UK climate envoy Rachel Kyte said the text "feels a little out of balance" but expressed hope that consultations with Brazil could produce a stronger outcome.
"It would be a way of putting pressure on delegates to move quickly to resolve issues," said David Waskow, international climate director at the World Resources Institute, referring to the president's return and high-level meetings.
Main points of contention
The draft underscores a deep split between a broad coalition calling for a clear roadmap to phase out fossil fuels and an opposing bloc led by oil-producing countries. More than a dozen climate ministers and ambassadors publicly demanded stronger language committing countries to exit coal, oil and gas.
"The current reference in the text is weak, and it is presented as an option. It must be strengthened and adopted,"
said Tina Stege, climate envoy for the Marshall Islands.
On finance, the draft proposes tripling adaptation assistance from wealthy countries to developing nations by 2030 or 2035 — a core demand of poorer states. "Climate finance is not charity. It is a legal and moral obligation," Vanuatu's climate change minister Ralph Regenvanu told delegates.
Trade measures have also provoked strong objections. China and other countries pushed back against what they describe as "unilateral" approaches, including opposition to the EU's carbon border adjustment mechanism. Hoekstra warned there was "zero appetite" for reopening a fractious debate over climate finance and cautioned against what he termed a "phony conversation about trade measures."
Outlook
Brazil is eager to demonstrate that multilateralism remains capable of delivering tangible progress, even as some major players are absent or juggling competing priorities. Delegates emphasized that the summit's outcome will hinge on whether wealthier nations commit to significantly increasing finance for adaptation and whether negotiators can bridge sharply different positions on fossil fuels and trade.
The marathon talks are scheduled to conclude on Friday after nearly two weeks of negotiation, but with many issues still unresolved, an extension into overtime remains possible.