Against the odds: 82 nations unite behind Fossil Fuel Roadmap at COP30

In a striking display of international solidarity, more than 80 countries have joined forces at COP30 to demand a clear roadmap for phasing out fossil fuels, marking what campaigners are calling a "potential turning point for global climate action".

Why it matters ?

The coalition, spanning nations from Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Pacific, and Europe, represents a dramatic intervention in negotiations that had seemed stalled. What makes this moment particularly significant is that it's happening despite being left off the official conference agenda.

When Brazil declined to include the transition away from fossil fuels on COP30's official agenda, many observers feared the issue would languish. Instead, the opposite happened and this ties into the Mutirao Decision. The decision calls for countries to develop "just, orderly and equitable transition roadmaps" that progressively overcome fossil fuel dependency, backed by scaled-up climate finance from developed countries.

Speaking to the Guardian, Jasper Inventor, deputy programme director at Greenpeace International describes this as a “turning point of COP30” and “a strong signal coming from global south and global north countries on the need to phase out fossil fuels”. UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband stressed the remarkable unity of the coalition, noting that countries from both the Global North and South are speaking in unison on an issue that demands attention.

What countries are doing ?

Beyond rhetoric, concrete actions are emerging. South Korea announced it would join the Powering Past Coal Alliance, adding the world's seventh-largest coal fleet to the list of countries committed to transitioning from coal. The nation plans to retire 40 of its 61 coal-fired power plants by 2040, with a timeline for the remaining 21 expected next year.

Cambodia became the 18th member of a treaty to phase out oil, gas, and coal, joining other Pacific island nations that are already dealing with climate change effects. These announcements signal that momentum is building in the real world, even when diplomatic processes struggle to keep pace.

A coalition built on flexibility

Perhaps most encouraging is how supporters are framing the roadmap. This isn't about imposing a one-size-fits-all solution or demanding immediate action from countries still dependent on fossil fuel revenues. Some countries have large fossil fuel reserves they want to use for development, while others are dependent on imports. Many developing nations will need financial support and access to low-carbon technology to make the transition feasible.

Rachel Kyte, the UK’s climate envoy, said that this transition is not being forced on anyone and that each country can decide how and when to make the transition themselves depending on factors like the energy mix.

From Dubai to Belém: keeping promises

The push for a roadmap represents an effort to translate the landmark COP28 commitment to transition away from fossil fuels into actionable policy. While Saudi Arabia and other petrostates have attempted to weaken that resolution, the broad coalition at COP30 suggests they may be fighting a losing battle.

Even Brazil's Environment Minister Marina Silva, navigating her government's internal conflicts over oil expansion, urged countries to develop roadmaps that enable them to "progressively overcome dependence on fossil fuels" in a manner that is both equitable and strategically planned, backed by adequate financing.

The path forward

The Brazilian presidency has now included a reference to the roadmap in the draft negotiating text but presents it as one optional pathway among several. It acknowledges the issue exists but stops short of making it a core commitment. The final outcome depends entirely on which option negotiators choose, which is why so many countries are fighting for stronger language with clear targets and timelines.

Consensus remains out of reach. Saudi Arabia, Russia, and other oil-dependent nations are expected to resist. But the sheer number of supporters tells a different story. The conversation has shifted. With civil society and most nations now aligned, the question is no longer whether the world will transition away from fossil fuels. It's about how quickly and fairly that transition happens.

As negotiators work through COP30's final days, the momentum behind the Mutirão Decision shows how climate action really works. Sometimes progress doesn't come from official agendas or top-down mandates. It comes from the ground up, when enough people simply refuse to accept anything less.

--------

By Davin Choy.