Former President for Ireland and now member of the Elders Mary Robinson has said that although there is a lot of momentum and energy at the COP30 climate negotiations in Belém, a good final decision has not yet been reached.
Mrs Robinson, who has been at the Climate Summit since last weekend, highlighted that around 85 countries, including Ireland, have joined the Oil and Gas Alliance and are demanding a roadmap for phasing out fossil fuels in the final COP30 text.
Speaking to RTÉ, she said that as a lawyer she is frustrated that COP30 is not highlighting the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice issued last July.
The court advised that climate change is an urgent and existential threat, and states have binding legal obligations under the Paris Agreement, the Kyoto Protocol and international law to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect the climate system.
“This is not just political. It is legal. It is the law. It means that you must, by law, align with the 1.5 degree warming target.
“You must, by law, start cutting and phasing out greenhouse gas emissions.
“You must, by law, stop subsidising to the value of almost 2 trillion dollars a year, the fossil fuels that are harming us. This is law,” she said.
Watch: Mary Robinson says there is an ‘unstoppable momentum’ driving move to renewable energy
Mrs Robinson said this is a very significant change from the position before the court made its judgment.
“The gap between the commitments of countries under their climate action plans and what they should be doing to limit global warming is very, very big.
“The International Court of Justice says countries have an obligation to act.
“We need to get really serious. That is why it’s good that 85 countries are strongly championing the establishment of a road map to transition away from fossil fuels,” she added.
Mrs Robinson welcomed the fact that Brazil decided to hold the climate negotiations in the Amazon region.
She praised the sense of determination to get a deal and insisted that multilateralism is working.
“Above all else, we need to triple finance for climate adaptation finance.
“I am quite proud of the way Ireland was able to step up its commitment for climate adaptation finance to €11.6 million.
“That was higher than Luxembourg, Belgium, Switzerland and Portugal. We have made our contribution,” she said.
Mrs Robinson also referred to the climate-related Gender Action Plan.
Indigenous people protest at the COP30 climate summit in Brazil
This is a UN framework to integrate gender equality and women’s empowerment across all climate policies and actions in recognition of the fact that climate change impacts men and women differently, and that women and children disproportionately affected.
“So far, we haven’t seen enough priority to the Gender Action Plan,” she said
“We’re seeing quite a few problems with that. The experts at the UN came up with a good Gender Action Plan and we need to adopt it. But there are spoilers here, unfortunately.”
Negotiations intensifying, says O’Brien
Meanwhile, Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O’Brien has said the negotiations at the COP30 talks in Belém are intensifying.
He said the parties are working through a proposed text agreement about politically tricky issues including climate finance, trade-related concerns, and raising climate ambitions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions more quickly.
“It is intense. My team here from Ireland are working on the climate adaptation framework and adaptation finance for the developing world. We have been heavily involved in those negotiations. So far it has been positive.”
“There are the usual petrostates that who have different views on matters, particularly when it comes to a roadmap for the phasing out of fossil fuels.
“Two days ago we held the first meeting here at the Irish COP30 delegation offices of the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance where we agreed to push for a roadmap for phasing out fossil fuels to be included in the final agreement.
“The European Union is very positive about that, and Ireland’s playing a leading role,” he said.
The Minister said he would be disappointed if a roadmap is not in the final COP30 text.
“Even if it’s an addendum, or an appendix to the text, it’s fine. Because I think this COP needs to speak on this.
“We’re looking at trying to bridge the gap between the climate commitments that have been made and the Paris Agreement target to keep global warming to 1.5 degrees.
“There is a gap now. We are heading above that to 2.3 or 2.5 degrees. That would be disastrous and maybe irreversible.
“Ireland and other countries have shown how we can start to transition out of fossil fuels. We are doing it. But to set the roadmap for a fair, equitable and just transition while phasing out fossil usage is critical if we’re to try to bridge that gap.”
The Minister said the Brazilian COP30 presidency has been extremely efficient and very passionate about what they are doing.
Brazil’s President Lula da Silva speaks with civil society members and indigenous leaders in Belém
Lula arrives at COP30 to press for early climate deal
It comes as Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva arrived in Belém to press negotiators to reach an early deal at UN climate talks as nations remain far apart on contentious issues.
Brazil, which is hosting the summit, released a draft pact yesterday, hoping to get nations to agree on the most contentious points as soon as today, two days before the conference is scheduled to end in the Amazonian city.
Lula flew in to bring the weight of the presidency to the talks, in a rare late-stage visit by a head of state or government at the annual gathering.
The Brazilian president has invested a lot of political capital to achieve success in what he has promised would be a “COP of truth” and a victory against climate deniers.
Lula was due to meet with representatives of emerging countries, Europe, island states, indigenous groups and civil society.
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The head of COP30, Brazilian diplomat André Corrêa do Lago, has pressed negotiators to work around the clock in an effort to bridge divisions between the world’s wealthiest nations, developing countries and oil-rich states.
The disagreements centre on the impact of trade measures, language on transitioning away from fossil fuels, and demands for developed countries to provide more climate finance to poorer nations.
French ecological transition minister Monique Barbut knocked back Brazilian hopes of securing a deal as soon as Wednesday.
“No, there will not be a COP decision today. I don’t see how that could happen,” Ms Barbut told AFP.
“However, yes, there is a little bit of movement. But we are still far from the mark because for us, it must be a comprehensive package,” Ms Barbut said after a coordination meeting with European colleagues.
However, she added that she was “more optimistic” than she was the day before.
Negotiators are pushing for an agreement as soon as today
No more money
The draft underscores the gulf between a broad coalition – led by Europe and island states – pushing for a “roadmap” on phasing out fossil fuels, and an opposing bloc led by oil-producing countries.
“Whether we’re going to call it the roadmap or we’re going to use a different wording, I think is secondary. But once again, we very much like the idea,” EU climate commissioner Wopke Hoekstra said at a news conference.
Negotiators are also at loggerheads over pressure from the developing world for developed countries to provide more finance to help vulnerable nations adapt to climate change and deploy renewable energy.
The EU, where many countries are facing economic headwinds and soaring debt, has led opposition to those demands.
“We’re not looking at any increases in adaptation finance,” Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O’Brien said.
A new text is due to be published today.
COP30 is due to end on Friday, but climate summits regularly run into extra time.
Additional reporting AFP