By Caroline Varin and Georgia Gratton

November 18, 2025 - The Brazilian presidency of the UN Cop 30 summit has released a first draft text focused on the controversial issues that were left out of the conference's main agenda. The text represents a significant step forward in negotiations, but multiple options are offered for the main sticking points, suggesting that consensus is still lacking.

The issues tackled include climate finance from developed to developing nations, unilateral trade measures, and moving away from fossil fuels.

The presidency released a package of texts today, aiming to reach conclusion on several elements tomorrow. It included the first presidency draft text, following discussions on unilateral trade measures, climate finance, responses to countries' climate plans and emissions reporting — the four topics sitting outside the official conference agenda.

The text sets out options — with various degrees of strength — on fossil fuels and climate finance, including options for no text at all. A menu of multiple options is normal at this stage of the talks. It is now up to delegations to find compromise, with another round of consultations scheduled today.

One paragraph mentions the sharing of "domestic opportunities and success stories on the just, orderly and equitable transition towards low carbon solutions". There is also an option recalling the central paragraph of the global stocktake agreed in Dubai, which called for a move away from fossil fuels. This option suggests "convening" a high-level ministerial round table on different pathways and approaches "with a view to supporting countries to developed just, orderly and equitable transition roadmaps, including to progressively overcome their dependency on fossil fuels and towards halting and reversing deforestation". The option echoes previous calls for a roadmap to transition away from fossil fuels, made in the early days of Cop 30.

The text also touches on a potential response to the latest round of countries' climate plans, and their alignment with the Paris Agreement. One option calls on countries to accelerate action on the Dubai call, which is reiterated in full in the text. Others mention a "Global Implementation Accelerator" report and a "Belem Roadmap to 1.5[°C]". The latter refers to the Paris Agreement's most ambitious goal of holding the global rise in temperature to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, and appears a softer option than a specific roadmap on moving away from fossil fuels.

The texts are a "credible package capable of delivering meaningful Cop 30 outcomes" and represent "a substantial starting point", associate director at energy think-tank E3G Kaysie Brown said.

A key sticking point in negotiations overall could be on finance for adaptation — adjusting to climate change where possible — according to director of international climate action at non-profit WRI David Waskow. Developing countries are calling for adaptation finance provided by developed nations to reach $120bn/yr by 2030 — up from a goal of $40bn this year.

The draft text's elements on unilateral trade measures are "positive", as they invite more consideration, Waskow said.

Developed countries seem opposed to going beyond the climate finance deal struck at Cop 29, but are mostly supportive of language on shifting away from fossil fuels, global policy lead at civil society organisation Oil Change International Romain Ioualalen said.

"Parties eyeing an outcome on fossil fuels will not succeed if they don't send strong signals on finance, adaptation, and the just transition", he said.