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COP30: UN climate talks fail to secure new fossil fuel promises

COP30: UN climate talks fail to secure new fossil fuel promises

Georgina RannardClimate and science correspondent, Belém, Brazil

EPA Indigenous people at a protest. Man in centre wears a headpiece made of features and red dye or ink on fingersEPA

Following bitter rows, the UN climate summit COP30 in Belém, Brazil has ended with a deal that contains no direct reference to the fossil fuels that are heating up the planet.

It is a frustrating end for more than 80 countries including the UK and EU that wanted the meeting to commit the world to stop using using oil, coal and gas at a faster pace.

But oil-producing nations held the line that they should be allowed to use their fossil fuel resources to grow their economies.

The meeting takes place as the UN says it fears global efforts to limit global temperature rise to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels have failed.

A representative for Colombia furiously criticised the COP presidency for not allowing countries to object to the deal in the final meeting on Saturday, known as a plenary.

Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro said he “does not accept” the agreement.

The final deal, called the Mutirão, calls on countries to “voluntarily” accelerate their climate action.

For the first time, the US did not send a delegation after President Donald Trump said the country will leave the landmark Paris treaty that committed countries to act on climate change in 2015. He has branded climate change “a con”.

Veteran negotiator and former Germany climate envoy Jennifer Morgan told the BBC that the US absence was a “hole” in the negotiations. Often the US has supported blocs like the EU and UK.

“In a 12-hour negotiation overnight, when you have oil-producing countries pushing back hard, to not have someone counteracting on that, it certainly was hard,” she said

But for many countries, the fact that the talks did not collapse or roll back on past climate agreements is a relief.

Antigua and Barbuda Climate Ambassador Ruleta Thomas commented: “We are happy that there is a process that continues to function […] where every country can be heard.”

UNFCCC The talks over-ran by almost 24 hours with delegates working all nightUNFCCC

The talks over-ran by almost 24 hours with delegates working all night

The two weeks of talks were at times chaotic. Toilets ran out of water, torrential thunderstorms flooded the venue, and delegates struggled to cope in hot, humid rooms.

The COP’s nearly 50,000 registered delegates were evacuated twice. A group of about 150 protestors broke into the venue, breaching security lines, and carrying placards reading “our forests are not for sale”.

On Thursday a large fire broke out, rapidly burning a hole into the roof and forcing participants to evacuate for at least six hours.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva chose the city of Belém to put the world’s attention on the Amazon rainforest and to bring a rush of finance to the city.

Despite its desire for a more ambitious fossil fuel agreement, Brazil was criticised for its own plans to drill for oil at the mouth of the Amazon.

Its offshore oil and gas production is on course to increase until the early 2030s, according to analysis shared with the BBC by campaign group Global Witness.

Reuters Cruise ships, used as accommodation for COP30 in the river. Three people stand on the beach in front of them.Reuters

Some delegations stayed on cruise ships in Belém due to a shortage of accommodation

Countries at the talks have competing interests, depending on their national circumstances and how exposed they are to the effects of climate change. Some countries were happy about the outcomes.

India praised the deal, calling it “meaningful”. A group representing the interests of 39 small island and low-lying coastal states on Saturday called it “imperfect” but still a step towards “progress”.

Poorer nations have come away with a promise for more climate finance to help them adapt to the impacts of climate change.

“It has moved the needle. There is a clearer recognition that those with historic responsibility [countries that emitted more planet-warming gases in the past] have specific duties on climate finance,” said Sierra Leone Minister of The Environment and Climate Change Jiwoh Abdulai.

Reuters People use fire extinguishers to put out a fire at the Pavilion of Countries in the Blue Zone Reuters

A fire broke out at COP30, witnessed by the BBC climate team inside the venue

But it’s a sour end for more than 80 countries, who negotiated through the night to keep stronger fossil fuel language in the deal.

UK Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Ed Miliband insisted the meeting is a “step forward”.

“I would have preferred a more ambitious agreement,” he said.

“We’re not going to hide the fact that we would have preferred to have more, to have more ambition on everything,” EU climate commissioner Wopke Hoekstra told journalists.

With lush trees, bird cries and intense humidity, it was hard to escape the Amazonian backdrop of the talks.

Brazil launched the talks with a new fund called Tropical Forests Forever Facility that would pay countries to protect tropical forests. By the end of the meeting, it raised at least $6.5bn from governments, although the UK has not yet contributed.

Over 90 countries supported a call for a global deforestation action plan, or “roadmap”.

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Union Berlin condemned sexist comments on social media after appointing Marie-Louise Eta as the first female head coach in Europe’s “big five” football leagues, pledging the club “has her back”.

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After the announcement of Eta’s appointment on Sunday, a series of critical comments on social media targeted her, claiming she was unsuitable for the job because she is a woman.

“With all due respect, that’s sexism,” Union’s account on X responded to a post arguing that players would not take a woman’s tactical instructions seriously.

The club also listed another comment stating that a male coach who lost to her would lose face as sexist.

Eta is a longtime member of the club’s coaching staff, having served as an assistant to the men’s team and as head coach of the under-19 team.

Responding to a comment expressing concern about the treatment of Eta and potential sexist backlash if she loses a game, the club posted: “The Union family has her back.”

Eta has been named interim coach for the last five games of the season as Union aims to secure its spot in the Bundesliga for next season.

Union previously said she will take over as head coach of the club’s women’s team for next season.

The decision to appoint Eta won praise from Berlin’s mayor Kai Wegener, who called the decision “a strong signal for professional football and for women in elite-level sports,” but spelt Eta’s name wrong in the process.

The club corrected him. “We were so overwhelmed,” Wegner answered.

Eta’s first Bundesliga game as interim manager is on Saturday against Wolfsburg.

Europe’s “big five” includes the Bundesliga, England’s Premier League, the Spanish La Liga, Serie A and Ligue 1. These are considered the continent’s most prestigious domestic competitions.

Women have managed men’s teams in other European leagues, but none had previously coached in any of the big five until Eta’s appointment.

The club dismissed its previous head coach Steffen Baumgart earlier this month after a series of poor results left Union in the relegation zone.

#Union #Berlin #backs #coach #MarieLouise #Eta #sexist #abuse #onlineSexism,Berlin,Germany,Misogyny,Football">Union Berlin backs coach Marie-Louise Eta after sexist abuse online
          
              





                          
         Published on
            13/04/2026 – 14:18 GMT+2
            

        
  Union Berlin condemned sexist comments on social media after appointing Marie-Louise Eta as the first female head coach in Europe’s “big five” football leagues, pledging the club “has her back”.
        
        
        
          
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After the announcement of Eta’s appointment on Sunday, a series of critical comments on social media targeted her, claiming she was unsuitable for the job because she is a woman.
“With all due respect, that’s sexism,” Union’s account on X responded to a post arguing that players would not take a woman’s tactical instructions seriously.
The club also listed another comment stating that a male coach who lost to her would lose face as sexist.
Eta is a longtime member of the club’s coaching staff, having served as an assistant to the men’s team and as head coach of the under-19 team.
Responding to a comment expressing concern about the treatment of Eta and potential sexist backlash if she loses a game, the club posted: “The Union family has her back.”


Eta has been named interim coach for the last five games of the season as Union aims to secure its spot in the Bundesliga for next season.
Union previously said she will take over as head coach of the club’s women’s team for next season.
The decision to appoint Eta won praise from Berlin’s mayor Kai Wegener, who called the decision “a strong signal for professional football and for women in elite-level sports,” but spelt Eta’s name wrong in the process.
The club corrected him. “We were so overwhelmed,” Wegner answered.
Eta’s first Bundesliga game as interim manager is on Saturday against Wolfsburg.
Europe’s “big five” includes the Bundesliga, England’s Premier League, the Spanish La Liga, Serie A and Ligue 1. These are considered the continent’s most prestigious domestic competitions.
Women have managed men’s teams in other European leagues, but none had previously coached in any of the big five until Eta’s appointment.
The club dismissed its previous head coach Steffen Baumgart earlier this month after a series of poor results left Union in the relegation zone.

  
                                    Additional sources • AP
            #Union #Berlin #backs #coach #MarieLouise #Eta #sexist #abuse #onlineSexism,Berlin,Germany,Misogyny,Football

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