COP30 Deadlocked Over Fossil Fuels as Fire and Protests Disrupt Talks in Belém

Delegates at the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil, remain sharply divided over language on fossil fuels after a new draft text circulated by the host country omitted any roadmap for transitioning away from coal, oil and natural gas — and did not use the term "fossil fuels." That omission prompted more than 30 nations from Africa, Europe, Asia and the Pacific to co-sign a letter rejecting the draft and demanding a clear plan for a just, orderly and equitable transition.

An earlier draft had included the option to develop a roadmap away from nonrenewable energy, reflecting momentum from COP28 in Dubai when commitments to move away from fossil fuels became a headline outcome. Even then, negotiators stopped short of endorsing an explicit "phase-out" after intense lobbying by major oil and gas producers.

Sources familiar with the talks report that several large producers and consumers, including China, India, Saudi Arabia and Russia, opposed the roadmap language. The United States — which supported a phase-out under the previous administration — did not send a delegation this year, removing a previously influential voice from negotiations. President Donald Trump has repeatedly dismissed the climate crisis as a "hoax," a stance that has shaped U.S. engagement in recent years.

Climate finance and contested commitments

Another central point of contention is climate finance. Brazil's latest draft calls for tripling climate finance by 2030 compared with 2025 levels, but it does not specify who should provide those funds —whether wealthy governments, the private sector or multilateral development banks. Historically, wealthy countries have resisted open-ended cash commitments, leaving poorer nations frustrated about who will fund adaptation and loss-and-damage efforts.

"Communities on the front lines are watching too, counting flooded homes, failed harvests, lost livelihoods. They have heard enough excuses," said UN Secretary-General António Guterres, urging delegates to counter disinformation aimed at derailing the transition.

Disruptions on site

The negotiations were briefly interrupted when a fire broke out in an exhibition pavilion on Thursday, forcing thousands to evacuate. Organizers say flames spread up the building's internal shell as attendees finished lunch; the blaze lasted about six minutes. Nineteen people were treated for smoke inhalation, and officials reported no other injuries.

Delegates have also reported problems with electrical wiring, air conditioning and other infrastructure throughout the conference, which is being held at the edge of the Amazon rainforest. Meanwhile, thousands of protesters marched in Belém calling for greater representation for Indigenous peoples and environmental defenders in the talks.

In a joint statement on Thursday evening, UN and COP30 leaders said the fire site was "safe" and urged delegates to return to negotiations. Organizers warned that substantial work remains and signaled that talks may spill into the weekend as negotiators try to salvage an agreed outcome.

What to watch next

• Whether delegates restore language committing to a roadmap away from fossil fuels and, if so, how explicit any timelines or mechanisms will be.
• Who commits to provide the expanded climate finance Brazil proposed and whether specific funding channels are identified.
• How protests and infrastructure issues shape the pace and tone of negotiations over the final days of COP30.