Fossil Fuels Excluded from COP30 Climate Negotiations: Implications for Indigenous Communities

Sat Nov 22 2025 16:02:44 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The controversy surrounding the exclusion of fossil fuel discussions from the COP30 draft deal raises alarms for Indigenous communities deeply affected by climate change and environmental degradation.

As ongoing COP30 talks in Belém, Brazil, approach their conclusion, the omission of fossil fuel discussions from the draft deal has sparked criticism from various nations and environmental advocates. This exclusion threatens to undermine commitments to climate action, particularly for Indigenous communities who are among the first to feel the impacts of climate change. Urgent calls for stronger support systems and equitable transitions away from fossil fuels are being highlighted amidst rising tensions in negotiations.

All mention of fossil fuels, by far the largest contributor to climate change, has been dropped from the draft deal under negotiation as the COP30 UN climate talks in Belém, Brazil enter their final stretch.

Draft agreements typically experience multiple revisions due to the necessity for consensus among nearly 200 countries involved. Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and some countries, including the UK, are advocating for commitments to stronger, faster action in reducing fossil fuel dependency. However, an earlier text proposing various routes towards this goal was removed following pushback from oil-producing nations.

A coalition of countries, including the UK, has expressed deep concerns regarding the exclusion of a roadmap for a just transition away from fossil fuels, highlighting the negotiating tactics being employed. Sources indicate that nations like Saudi Arabia are obstructing the fossil fuel discussions.

Further complicating the negotiations, there are growing frustrations about the lack of commitment to address deforestation, a critical issue for Indigenous peoples who rely on forest ecosystems. Kelly Dent, from World Animal Protection, remarked on the underwhelming response to deforestation at a summit hosted on the brink of the Brazilian Amazon.

The COP30 meeting is characterized by a notable presence of Indigenous representatives, which emphasizes the urgent need for their voices in discussions surrounding climate change impacts and solutions. As negotiations unfold, observers are keenly aware of the challenges faced by action-seeking communities under the current diplomatic process.