COP30 makes progress on just transition but misses on everything else
For immediate release
“The barricade that rich countries built against progress and justice in the COP30 process stands in stark contrast to the momentum building outside the climate talks. Countries and people from around the world loudly are demanding a fair and funded phaseout, and that is not going to stop. We didn’t win the full justice outcome we need in Belém, but we have new arenas to keep fighting.”
Romain Ioualalen, Global Policy lead at Oil Change International, said:
“Rich polluting countries that caused this crisis have blocked the breakthrough that we needed at COP30. The EU, UK, Australia and other wealthy nations are to blame for COP’s failure to adopt a roadmap on fossil fuels by refusing to commit to phase out first or put real public money on the table for the crisis they have caused. Still, amidst this flawed outcome, there are glimmers of real progress. The Belém Action Mechanism is a major win made possible by movements and Global South countries that puts people’s needs and rights at the center of climate action.
“Rather than a concrete path forward on an equitable fossil fuel phaseout and rich countries paying their fair share for climate action and impacts, we are still deep in the woods. The final COP30 outcome delivered a Presidential initiative on a roadmap on the transition away from fossil fuels and new political processes to keep fighting for rich countries to meet their legal obligations to pay up. These need to lead to urgent action, not just talk.
“The barricade that rich countries built against progress and justice in the COP30 process stands in stark contrast to the momentum building outside the climate talks. Countries and people from around the world loudly are demanding a fair and funded phaseout, and that is not going to stop. We didn’t win the full justice outcome we need in Belém, but we have new arenas to keep fighting. We look forward to Colombia’s first international conference on fossil fuel phase out to rally more countries behind this push that science, equity, and international law demand.
“People powered movements showed the way in Belém, from workers demanding a just transition to youth and frontline communities fighting fossil fuel expansion. They’re proving when leaders fail, people will lead. From the streets, from solidarity, and from the people forcing governments to act, this is where real transformation begins.”
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