UN climate talks fail to reach new fossil fuel commitments

After fierce bickering, the United Nations climate summit COP30 in Belém, Brazil, ended with an agreement that made no direct reference to fossil fuels that are heating the planet.

It was a disheartening end for more than 80 countries, including Britain and the European Union, who wanted the meeting to commit the world to a faster end to the use of oil, coal and gas.

But oil-producing countries insist they should be allowed to use fossil fuel resources to develop their economies.

The meeting comes as the United Nations expresses concern that global efforts to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels are failing.

A Colombian representative strongly criticized the COP president for not allowing countries to oppose the agreement at Saturday’s final meeting, known as the plenary session.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro said he “does not accept” the deal.

The final agreement, called Mutirão, calls on countries to “voluntarily” accelerate their climate action.

The two weeks of talks were chaotic at times. Toilets ran out of water and a storm flooded the venue, leaving delegates struggling in the hot and humid room.

Nearly 50,000 registered delegates to the Conference of the Parties were evacuated twice. A group of about 150 protesters broke into the venue, breaching security lines and holding placards that read “Our forests are not for sale.”

A fire broke out on Thursday and quickly burned a hole in the roof, forcing participants to evacuate for at least six hours.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva chose Belém to draw world attention to the Amazon rainforest and bring significant funding to the city.

Brazil has been criticized for its plans to drill for oil in the Amazon estuary, despite its eagerness for a more ambitious fossil fuel deal.

Its offshore oil and gas production will increase by the early 2030s, according to analysis shared with the BBC by campaign group Global Witness.

However, some countries said they were pleased with the results.

India praised the deal, calling it “meaningful”. On Saturday, the group representing the interests of 39 small islands and low-lying coastal states called it “imperfect” but still a step toward “progress”.

Some poorer countries have pledged more climate finance to help them adapt to the impacts of climate change.

But it’s a bad ending for the more than 80 countries who negotiated through the night to keep stronger fossil fuel language in the deal.

British Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband insisted the meeting was a “step forward”.

“I would have preferred a more ambitious deal,” he said.

“We will not hide the fact that we want more, more ambition in everything,” EU climate commissioner Wopke Hoekstra told reporters.