Skip next section COP30 runs into overtime amid fossil fuel phase-out dispute
11/21/2025November 21, 2025COP30 runs into overtime amid fossil fuel phase-out dispute
The UN Climate Change Conference is set to extend talks after representatives from about 200 countries failed to agree on a draft deal proposed by host nation Brazil.
Debate is particularly fierce over whether the deal should include a reference to phasing out fossil fuels.
More than 80 countries, including Germany, are pushing for a plan to phase out fossil fuels, a move strongly opposed by oil-producing countries.
Negotiators remained in closed-door meetings Friday as they worked to bridge differences.
German Environment Minister Carsten Schneider told DW that negotiators were still working hard.
Earlier, COP30 President Andre Correa do Lago told delegates there “cannot be an agenda that divides us.”
“We must reach an agreement between us.”
Burning fossil fuels emits greenhouse gases, the largest contributors to global warming.
https://p.dw.com/p/542gN
Skip next section Civil society holds ‘People’s Plenary’ at COP3011/21/2025November 21, 2025Civil society holds ‘People’s Plenary’ at COP30The People’s Plenary was held while negotiators try to hammer out an elusive dealImage: Fernando Llano/AP Photo/picture alliance
A political consensus on climate protection, reducing global emissions and establishing a roadmap to transition away from fossil fuels remains elusive at COP30, which has entered its final day.
Faced with the impasse at the summit in Belem, members of civil society were holding a “People’s Plenary” to repeat what their demands for the summit in Brazil, which centered on climate justice and indigenous rights, among other issues.
During the session, young people from around the world highlighted the challenges they face living in countries that are the most vulnerable to climate change.
One speaker, Roaa Ahmed Elobeid Dafaallah from Sudan, received a standing ovation after she spoke about losing her home during the civil war in the country and the sexual violence that young girls are suffering as a result of the conflict.
https://p.dw.com/p/542b1
Skip next section WATCH: How drones could help reforest the world’s green lungs11/21/2025November 21, 2025WATCH: How drones could help reforest the world’s green lungs
Close to the COP30 venue in Belem, Brazil, degraded farmland is transformed back into thriving ecosystems.
French start-up MORFO uses drones to plant native seeds, restoring thousands of hectares of the Amazon forest.
How drones could help reforest the world’s green lungs
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https://p.dw.com/p/541xj
Skip next section How can we reduce CO2?11/21/2025November 21, 2025How can we reduce CO2?CO2 emissions, which hit a historic high last year, are driving climate changeImage: Boris Roessler/dpa/picture alliance
Carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels is causing climate change.
From renewables and green tech to tackling deforestation, what will it take to turn the tide on emissions?
Read our full report to find out more about how to reduce CO2 emissions.
https://p.dw.com/p/541yS
Skip next section EU climate commissioner blasts lack of ‘ambition’ in draft deal
11/21/2025November 21, 2025EU climate commissioner blasts lack of ‘ambition’ in draft deal
Hoekstra said he was disappointed with the draft text put forward on FridayImage: Adriano Machado/REUTERS
Wopke Hoekstra, the EU’s climate commissioner, has also responded to the lack of reference to fossil fuels in the draft deal text revealed on Friday, the last planned day of the summit.
“This is in no way close to the ambition we need on mitigation,” Hoekstra said.
“We are disappointed with the text currently on the table. We are willing to be ambitious on adaptation, but we would like to make clear that any language on finance should squarely be within the commitment reached last year” at COP29 in Azerbaijan.
The previous climate conference saw rich countries agree to provide $300 billion (€260 billion) in annual climate finance.
https://p.dw.com/p/541e0
Skip next section Colombia spearheads letter condemning removal of fossil fuel phaseout
11/21/2025November 21, 2025Colombia spearheads letter condemning removal of fossil fuel phaseout
Colombia has written a letter to the Brazilian presidency lamenting the removal of an ambitious fossil fuel phaseout from the COP30 draft agreement.
The letter was signed by more than 30 countries, including Germany, France, the UK, and Australia, which will be leading negotiations at next year’s COP31 in Turkey.
“We express deep concern regarding the current proposal under consideration for a take it or leave it,” the letter read.
“In its present form, the proposal does not meet the minimum conditions required for a credible COP outcome,” the declaration continued.
“We cannot support an outcome that does not include a roadmap for implementing a just, orderly, and equitable transition away from fossil fuels.”
“We respectfully yet firmly request that the Presidency present a revised proposal that reflects the views of the majority and restores balance, ambition, and credibility to the process. We stand ready to work constructively with you toward such an outcome.”
https://p.dw.com/p/541ZD
Skip next section 10 visuals to help you understand climate change11/21/2025November 21, 202510 visuals to help you understand climate change
Tackling climate change can sometimes appear too complex to understand, but there are a few key data points that will help you better grasp the problem.
For example, this chart shows you how despite emissions stabilizing in Europe and America, there is still a long way to go to decarbonizing global economies.
https://p.dw.com/p/541PN
Skip next section TIMELINE: 30 years of COP
11/21/2025November 21, 2025TIMELINE: 30 years of COP
https://p.dw.com/p/541Av
Skip next section WATCH: COP30 climate summit enters final day in Belem, Brazil
11/21/2025November 21, 2025WATCH: COP30 climate summit enters final day in Belem, Brazil
As the COP30 climate talks enter their final day, discussions are heating up as negotiators try to reach consensus on a final agreement.
This year’s summit has the goal of turning previous promises into concrete plans.
COP30 climate summit enters final day in Belem, Brazil
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https://p.dw.com/p/541C6
Skip next section Germany calls for ‘clear roadmap’ to phasing out fossil fuels
11/21/2025November 21, 2025Germany calls for ‘clear roadmap’ to phasing out fossil fuels
Environment Minister Carsten Schneider has led Germany’s delegation at the summit [FILE: November 17, 2025]Image: Fernando Llano/AP Photo/picture alliance
Following the disappearance of a reference to the phasing out of fossil fuels from the draft text of the COP30 agreement, Germany has made a call for the deal to be strengthened.
“We want to have a clear roadmap for phasing out fossil fuels,” German Environment Minister Carsten Schneider told broadcaster RTL/ntv.
Germany joined several other countries in criticizing the latest version of the deal in a letter to the Brazilian presidency of the summit.
The letter warned that, “in its present form, the proposal does not meet the minimum conditions required for a credible COP outcome.”
“We cannot support an outcome that does not include a roadmap for implementing a just, orderly and equitable transition away from fossil fuels,” the letter said, warning this would represent a “step backward.”
https://p.dw.com/p/541Ev
Skip next section Divisive fossil fuel roadmap scrapped from latest COP30 text11/21/2025November 21, 2025Divisive fossil fuel roadmap scrapped from latest COP30 textExpectations were high that COP30 would deliver progress on transitioning away from fossil fuelsImage: Julian Stratenschulte/dpa/picture alliance
In the final hours of UN climate summit talks in Brazil, negotiators are pushing to bridge divides on key issues, including finance and moving away from coal, oil and gas.
However, the latest draft text omits the mention of a roadmap to move away from burning the fossil fuels.
Deep divisions have emerged between countries who support a road map, and a significant bloc, including petro-states such as Saudi Arabia and Iran, firmly opposed to the phase-out.
Fossil fuels are the main driving force behind the changes to the climate and are leading to increased drought, flooding, storms and deadly heat.
Read DW’s report to find out why fossil fuels were removed from the COP30 roadmap.
https://p.dw.com/p/5419p
Skip next section Welcome to our coverage11/21/2025November 21, 2025Welcome to our coverage
Thank you for joining us as we open our live blog on the last day of the COP30 climate conference.
We will bring you the latest from the negotiations as well as analysis and background from DW.
https://p.dw.com/p/5414s