Australia signs declaration to transition from fossil fuels but fails to show leadership when it counts in Belem.

The Australian Conservation Foundation has welcomed Australia signing the Belem Declaration to Transition from Fossil Fuels, but when it came to securing a strong formal agreement decision at COP30, Australia was missing in action.  

Despite the lack of a formal COP30 outcome on fossil fuels and deforestation as the summit concluded in Brazil, the ACF welcomed the Brazilian Presidency’s commitment to deliver roadmaps for both by the next COP. 

“We welcome the Albanese government’s decision to join dozens of countries to sign the Belem Declaration on the Transition Away from Fossil Fuels,” said ACF’s climate and energy program manager Gavan McFadzean from COP30 in Brazil.    

“The declaration is a commitment to transition energy systems and exports from fossil fuels to renewable energy in a just and equitable way, and for wealthy countries to assist developing countries to bypass fossil fuels and adopt renewable energy as their economies develop, and energy needs increase. 

“While perennial blockers including Saudi Arabia, Japan and Russia blocked progress in the formal decision, COP President Andre Correa de Lago used momentum from the Belem Declaration to commit to delivering roadmaps to phase out fossil fuels and deforestation.  

“As ‘COP31 President (Negotiations) it’s now for Australia’s Chris Bowen to deliver, both as part of the COP process and leading by example to phase out fossil fuel exports at home,” Mr McFadzean said.  

“But when leadership was needed in the final days to stand with Brazil to deliver strong language for a fossil fuel phase out as part of the formal COP30 decision, Australia sat on its hands. 

“With a lead negotiation role secured for COP31, Australia needs to show stronger leadership than this.   

“Signing the declaration alongside the formal negotiations is significant, but it’s disappointing Australia didn’t advocate publicly for a fossil fuel phase out in the formal COP30 decision. When countries needed to stand up for global climate ambition, Australia watched on as the decision was weakened. 

“Pacific nations and vulnerable communities in Australia, already reeling from climate fuelled extreme weather, need the Albanese government to lead on climate action when it matters, not go MIA in the final days of negotiations,” he said. 

Holding the meeting in the Amazon, COP30 President Brazil had placed a strong focus on forests and biodiversity, but ACF’s nature lead in Belém, Nathaniel Pelle said it failed to deliver.  

“Without a formal process within the Paris Accord to end deforestation we will continue to see destruction of ecosystems, which is all we have to remove large volumes of carbon from the atmosphere and protect the planet’s biodiversity,” Mr Pelle said.