Climate summit in Brazil: disappointment over lack of progress!

Climate summit in Brazil: disappointment over lack of progress!

The world climate summit in Belém, Brazil, seemed like a storm in a teacup - after two weeks of intensive negotiations, there was no agreement on a clear plan to move away from fossil fuels. Despite efforts and nearly 20 hours of additional talks, the meeting failed to break the deadlock maintained by influential oil states and some emerging economies. The decisions were sharply criticized by environmental organizations and activists who considered the result inadequate. Nordkurier reports that the conference did not set specific timelines and amounts for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider (SPD) was disappointed and accused the oil-producing countries of using their blockade tactics to prevent serious efforts to progress. This is particularly problematic as the global community has been trying to take stronger steps against global warming since the Paris Agreement ten years ago. While the EU campaigned for a clear move away from fossil fuels, these efforts met with resistance, particularly from Arab states. Welt emphasizes that the text of the resolution does not even contain the word “fossil”.

The challenges in climate policy

The final documents of the conference mentioned initiatives to support poorer countries in achieving their climate goals, but there were no clear commitments to reduce greenhouse gases. What was particularly disappointing was the fact that the requested timetable for phasing out coal, oil and gas was deleted from the discussion draft, as NZZ reports. The potential exit from fossil fuels therefore remains an unfulfilled dream.

In the meantime, Brazil, under the leadership of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, has launched a fund to protect the rainforest, which is supported by Germany with one million euros. But there was no concrete “forest action plan” to curb widespread deforestation, which further increased the discontent among many environmentalists. It is a bitter pill to swallow to accept these inadequate measures when the issue of climate change is more pressing than ever. Scientists warn that Earth's temperature could soon rise by 1.5 degrees Celsius, which would have catastrophic consequences.

Protests and future prospects

Accompanying the deliberations, there were also protests by indigenous activists and civil society who loudly advocate for greater protection measures for the rainforest and a more consistent climate policy. The next climate conference is scheduled to take place in Antalya, Türkiye, with Australia playing a special role. This gives hope that the pressure to comply with ambitions and the requirements for an exit from fossil fuels will not completely disappear from focus.

It is to be hoped that the Belém experience serves as a warning to the international community; Because the responsibility to turn things around rests on the shoulders of all countries. The next steps must be characterized by ambitious and clear measures, because the clock is ticking.