Oil Change International COP30 Draft Mutirão Decision reactive and Media Advisory – November 18

November 18, Belém, Brazil – The second week of COP30 has opened with a show of political maneuvering, as ministers arrived in Belém to an agenda that is quickly being merged into two high-stakes packages. A new proposal presented by the COP30 Presidency this morning, the draft Mutirao Decision, summarizes outcomes on sticky issues raised by Parties that weren’t on the agenda, and on which consultations were held over the last week. This includes  consideration of the NDCs, and the obligation of developed countries to provide climate finance and unilateral trade measures. This new draft text was also expected to present plans to develop a “roadmap” to transition away from fossil fuels – a topic that’s been getting strong attention in Belém. The verdict? A meaningful roadmap is nowhere to be seen.  

In response, Romain Ioualalen, Global Policy lead at Oil Change International, said: 

“Options presented on fossil fuels in this new text are wildly unacceptable and a blatant dereliction of duty while the world burns. We don’t need a COP decision to convene a workshop or ministerial round table on fossil fuels. What we need is a clear collective direction of travel on how countries intend to phase out fossil fuels based on equity, and how rich Global North countries will provide finance and support to the countries that need it. 

“The text does provide some strong options to ensure rich countries pay their climate debts  that they need to get behind if they want to build bridges with the Global South. Yet, it also puts poison on the menu with new options that say the most climate vulnerable countries should rely on unrealistic and unfair private finance schemes instead.

“Ministers must fix this mess and deliver the progress that we need to make the fair and funded transition away from fossil fuels they promised in Dubai a reality.”

Today’s key events:

Press:

• Press Conference: Fossil Fuel Phaseout Plan in Flux in Final Days of Talks | 10:00 | Press Conference room 2 and online | Advocates and veteran observers from four continents will hold a press conference Tuesday updating the status of a COP30 roadmap for fossil fuel phaseout and the urgent need for any such plan to be fast, fair and funded.  
• Gas Project Considered for UK Taxpayer Support Embroiled in Legal Action Over War Crimes Allegations

Events and Actions: 

• 11:00 Pay Up the Climate Finance | Action Location 1 (across from Information & Services Hub, next to Meeting Room 1)

Look out for tomorrow November 19, 2025: 

• Third Annual High-Level Ministerial Round Table on Just Transition
• Baku High-Level Dialogue on Adaptation- Mandated event

In case you missed it:

• 70+ Organizations at COP 30 Call on Governments Worldwide to Establish Fossil-Free Zones to Protect Forests and Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities. 
  • More information: Press Release and Letter
• Korea Joins Powering Past Coal Alliance at COP30
  

Spokespeople and areas of focus

At COP30, reach out to us to connect with spokespeople to cover: 

• • Fair Fossil fuel phaseout: Fossil fuel phaseout roadmaps, Global North countries’ fossil fuel expansion, Nationally Determined Contributions, diplomacy and negotiations 
  • Financing a just transition: Baku to Belém roadmap, NCQG, Article 2.1(c), fossil fuel subsidies and finance, financial architecture reform, just transition 
  • Industry and False Solutions: Industry pledges, Oil and Gas Decarbonization Charter, IEA / WEO, CCS, False Solutions Subsidies, Kick Polluters Out, International Energy Agency and World Energy Outlook, 1.5ºC scenarios
  • United States: Trump, U.S. Congress, U.S. finance and subsidies, false solutions and CCS, LNG, certified gas, Methane
  • Africa: Resistance to oil and gas in Africa, oil and gas expansion in Africa
  • Asia: Japan’s energy strategy, Japan’s gas and fossil fuel-based technologies (ammonia/hydrogen co-firing, CCS) expansion in Asia

OCI has spokespeople available on the ground at COP30 for interviews and press panels, as well as remote spokespeople available in alternative timezones for those journalists not in attendance in Belém

We will deliver daily media advisories with the most important updates from COP30 on fossil fuel phaseout, fair finance for a just transition, and expert insight on the negotiations. 

If this email was forwarded to you and you would like to be added to our media distribution list, please email [email protected]. 

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