Climate summit ends with agreement, fossil fuels remain taboo

At the COP30 climate summit in Belém, Brazil, the world's nations agree on a compromise deal that increases financial support for developing countries affected by the effects of global warming.

However, the text makes no mention of fossil fuels - the main source of greenhouse gas emissions. The stalemate between the European Union and the Arab countries meant that negotiations continued until Saturday.

The Brazilian Presidency described the document agreed as the result of difficult negotiations. While the EU initially insisted on enshrining the objective of moving away from oil, gas and coal, it eventually backed down - after countries such as Saudi Arabia refused any mention.

Critics, however, see the decision as a failure of ambition: the Panamanian delegate pointed out that the agreement "cannot even pronounce the words fossil fuels".

The document launches a voluntary initiative to accelerate climate action and calls on rich countries to triple their adaptation funding by 2035. Developing countries have long warned that they need urgent help to cope with the growing impacts of climate extremes. Part of the outcome of COP30 is a new process to examine the compatibility of international trade with climate goals.

(reuters, est)