COP30 fossil fuel roadmap must be real political process, CSOs tell Brazil presidency
By: Abudu Olalekan
So. The COP30 Presidency sent their 12th letter. 114 civil society groups hit reply – with an open letter that’s blunt.
It’s addressed to President André Corrêa do Lago. The message? Simple. Without real political muscle and a truly inclusive process, the fossil fuel transition roadmap risks becoming just another paper. The kind that gathers dust. Not action.
We’re not asking for magic. Just credibility. Right now, climate chaos is hitting hard. Wars ripple through energy markets. Countries are tired of oil price shocks wrecking budgets. People see it. Governments feel it. That’s why the letter says it plain: global climate action hinges on whether we can actually manage a “just and orderly decline” of fossil fuels. Not just talk about it.
Who signed? Climate justice crews. Indigenous leaders. Faith groups. Human rights orgs. Community reps from Brazil to the Pacific. They’re not just ticking boxes. They stress: this roadmap can’t be some quiet tech exercise in a back room.
Andreas Sieber from 350.org (who helped pull this together with Observatório do Clima in Brazil) puts it raw:
“Start of 2026 showed us one thing clear as day: countries need out of volatile oil markets. Geopolitical risk? Price shocks? Yeah. This is about a managed decline. And energy that’s actually affordable. Just.”
He’s not mincing words: “This roadmap’s a shot to turn promises into real steps – not another shelf-warmer.”
So what would make it real? Signatories say:
Transparent. Co-created. Civil society, Indigenous Peoples, local communities – not just consulted, but shaping it.
Co-leadership. Brazil can’t do it alone. Needs willing partners – especially Latin America, Pacific nations – ready to carry it forward when Brazil’s term ends.
Safeguards. Fossil fuel lobbyists? Locked out or strictly limited. No greenwashing loopholes.
Fairness. Workers, communities – their costs, their benefits. Shared across countries. No one left holding the bag.
Political teeth. Minister-level ownership. Strong accountability. Human rights baked in.
Claudio Angelo (Observatório do Clima) adds:
“Brazil’s presidency wraps up soon. Others must step up – this takes years. Co-ownership is key. Brazil’s gotta balance boldness with inclusion. Tricky, but doable.”
And the stakes? Huge. Continued fossil dependence = more price shocks. More conflict. More coercion. Science-based transition isn’t just about 1.5°C. It’s about keeping economies stable. Keeping people safe.
Fenton Lutunatabua (350.org, Pacific & Caribbean) reminds us why this matters now:
“Pacific and Amazon folks celebrated the roadmap idea last November. They saw hope. This year? 1.5°C is bleeding out. We can’t afford another empty document. Delaying coal, oil, gas shift? It’ll wreck the Pacific. Wreck the Amazon. Wreck frontline communities everywhere.”
Look – nobody expects perfection overnight. But they do expect real movement. No more stalling. No more texts that vanish into PDF graves. The roadmap needs to breathe with people’s lives. Brazil started something. Others must help carry it. Before the dust settles – for real this time.
