Belém, Brazil, November 14, 2025
As world leaders, climate negotiators, and civil society groups gather for COP30 in the Amazonian city of Belém, one issue has rapidly emerged as the defining theme of this year’s summit: the global call for a just and equitable transition away from fossil fuels.
The push for a clear, time-bound global road map to phase out coal, oil, and gas has intensified, amid new scientific assessments showing global emissions from fossil fuels rose again in 2025, pushing the world further off track from the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C target.
Developing Nations: “Transition Must Not Create New Inequalities”
Leaders from the Global South - including climate-vulnerable nations such as Nepal, Bangladesh, the Pacific Islands, and African states - are urging major emitters to ensure that the energy transition does not become another form of structural inequality.
Delegates argue that while rich countries expanded their economies through fossil fuels for decades, developing nations are now being asked to transition rapidly without adequate finance, technology, or institutional support.
“This transition cannot be built on unequal foundations,” one negotiator from a Least Developed Country (LDC) group said. “Climate justice means enabling all countries to move toward clean energy without sacrificing development.”
Indigenous Movements Amplify Demands in the Amazon
Indigenous leaders from across the Amazon Basin have brought a strong and visible presence to COP30. Their message: fossil-fuel phase-out must not repeat extractive patterns that displace communities, degrade forests, or create “sacrifice zones.”
“Transition is not truly just if it comes at the cost of Indigenous lands or rights,” said an Amazonian representative during a peaceful demonstration inside the summit venue.
Their demands include:
Recognition of Indigenous land rights
Protection of Amazon forests as climate stabilizers
Community-led renewable energy investments
Prevention of mining, oil, and megaproject expansion in Indigenous regions
Fossil Fuel Road Map: The Most Contested Issue
A coalition of countries - including some European nations, island states, and climate-vulnerable countries - is pushing for the adoption of a Global Fossil Fuel Phase-Out Road Map at COP30.
The proposal aims to:
Set clear timelines for ending coal, oil, and gas
Establish fairness principles for developing economies
Accelerate renewable energy deployment
Mobilize large-scale transition finance
However, fossil-fuel-dependent economies remain hesitant, concerned about economic disruption and energy security.
Why This Matters for Nepal and Himalayan Countries
For countries like Nepal, which face climate risks ranging from glacial melt to disasters, the outcomes at COP30 carry immense weight.
A just transition framework could:
Expand access to clean energy investment
Reduce long-term dependency on fuel imports
Strengthen climate-resilient development pathways
Ensure climate finance is accountable, transparent, and adequate
Nepal’s delegates have emphasized that climate finance must be viewed as global investment, not aid - echoing a key message gaining momentum at COP30.
Global Eyes on COP30 Outcomes
As negotiations progress in Belém, observers say COP30 may become a landmark summit if nations can agree on:
A fair fossil-fuel phase-out plan
Scaled-up finance for vulnerable countries
Stronger protection of forests and Indigenous lands
Enhanced accountability for climate commitments
With the world’s carbon budget shrinking, the decisions made in the Amazon could shape the global climate trajectory for decades.
