Brazil unveils global framework for fossil fuel reduction

However, climate scientist Joeri Rogelj of Imperial College London cautioned that while the roadmaps represent progress, they lack specific timelines or benchmarks. He stated, “The roadmaps are valuable but fall short of clearly indicating the pace of change needed by including no timeline or key benchmarks.” Rogelj emphasized that this omission hinders the ability to achieve the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to well below 2°C, ideally 1.5°C.

André Corrêa do Lago, president of the upcoming Cop30 summit, explained that the roadmaps aim to shift the focus of UN climate conferences from negotiation to implementation of existing targets. Cop31 is scheduled to take place in Antalya, Turkey, later this month.

Lago stressed that these roadmaps should be adopted by various ministries—finance, transportation, energy, and infrastructure—to facilitate implementation within each country. Brazil hosted Cop30 last November in Belém, where disagreements arose regarding pledges on fossil fuels, leading to the creation of these roadmaps, one focused on phasing out fossil fuels and the other on halting deforestation.

These Brazilian roadmaps differ from those developed by a “coalition of the willing” formed in Santa Marta, Colombia, in April, which involve more detailed national plans. Unlike those plans, Brazil’s roadmaps outline potential steps without imposing binding requirements or deadlines, allowing countries to self-assess their dependence on fossil fuels.

According to Lago, countries will progress at different rates, and the focus should be on understanding their unique circumstances. He added, “Based on these diagnoses, they can choose their levers [of policy] and implement the transition.”

Suggested steps include reducing gas flaring and venting by oil and gas producers, eliminating fossil fuel subsidies, and expanding renewable energy generation. The deforestation roadmap highlights the need for substantial financial support—estimated at $300 billion annually by 2030 and $500 billion by 2050—to protect forests like the Amazon, Congo rainforests, and forests in Southeast Asia. Currently, only about $85 billion is available annually.

Brazil established the “tropical forests forever” facility at Cop30, with the UK contributing £400 million and other nations pledging approximately $7 billion. The roadmap also underscores the importance of regulating trade to prevent the sale of goods from deforested areas. Indonesia is currently facing legal action from civil society groups concerning extensive forest fires linked to palm oil plantations.