With COP30 now underway in Brazil, and framed as an ‘implementation’ COP, a key question that has been raised is whether it will finally deliver on the pledge made at COP28 to phase out fossil fuels.
While the fossil-fuel phase out is not formally part of the COP30 agenda, a diplomatic push for it is unfolding behind the scenes.
In the run-up to the summit, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva ignited momentum by urging world leaders to adopt a concrete plan to “overcome dependence on fossil fuels.”
His call has reportedly drawn nearly 100 countries into a growing coalition seeking a stronger phase-out commitment and a roadmap to achieve it, despite fierce resistance from major oil producers.
Meanwhile, new data underscores the widening gap between climate goals and reality: global CO₂ emissions are set to hit new highs even as renewables dominate global power additions and clean-energy investment accelerates. Here are some key facts that could shape the discussions over fossil fuels at COP30.