Belgium is 1 of around 30 countries that have warned that they will block any final agreement at the UN climate summit if it does not include a commitment to phasing out fossil fuels. A spokesperson for the Federal Climate Minister Jean-Luc Crucke (Francophone centrist) told the press agency Belga that "We cannot support an outcome that fails to set out a roadmap for a just, orderly and equitable transition away from fossil fuels”.
Belgium will block COP30 agreement if it doesn’t include commitment to phase out fossil fuels
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In a letter that has been seen by several international media outlets at least 29 countries, including Belgium and the UK, have said that a commitment to phase out fossil fuels is a prerequisite to them signing up to a COP30 agreement.
The COP30 summit is due to close on Friday evening local time. The summit’s Brazilian Chair André Corrêa do Lago is tasked with presenting a final text that is acceptable to all the almost 200 countries that are participating in the summit.
However, Mr Corrêa do Lago’s most recent draft is reported to be devoid of any reference to phasing down fossil fuels. This omission is said to have come about due to pressure from major oil-producers such as Saudi Arabia and Russia and big consumers of oil such as China and India.