Fossil Fuels: The New 'F' Word

COP 30 Ends with No Roadmap for a Phaseout of Fossil Fuels

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Special to United Methodist Insight | Nov. 24, 2025

These days, “fossil fuels” seems to be as unspeakable as the other “F” word used to be, at least in official documents about addressing climate change. COP 30 ended not only without the roadmap to a transition away from fossil fuels in the official documents that many countries had demanded, but without even a mention of fossil fuels, the primary cause of climate change.

Sad to say, I see a parallel in how our United Methodist Church addresses climate change. It’s OK to acknowledge their harm and to talk about creation care and a just transition to clean energy. In fact, we have been doing that in our Book of Resolutions since 1980. Nothing is controversial about that.  But to advocate for phasing out fossil fuels in national or international policy, or to talk about divesting as a church from fossil fuels, are both controversial and divisive. Of course, it would be great if we could simply name the causes of climate change and start the ball rolling toward removing and replacing them with cleaner and often cheaper renewables, but some things can’t be done without at struggle. So here we are.

I must admit that I had a more hopeful attitude toward COP 30 than toward other previous COPs held in petro states, since it was held in Brazil.  I knew that many Indigenous and other forest and climate defenders would be there. It also brought back to me my experiences in 1992, when I was part of the United Methodist Church delegation to Rio de Janeiro during the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). It was the first major gathering of world leaders to focus on global warming and other environmental and related development issues. It resulted in several agreements, including the Framework Convention on Climate Change, a treaty signed by George W. Bush and later ratified by the Senate.

It was clear even then that environmental concerns could not be effectively addressed without simultaneously addressing poverty and inequity. The governments of the world acknowledged that sustainable development for poor countries was inseparable from global action on climate change, and they agreed that wealthier nations would help poorer countries develop sustainably through financial aid and transfers of renewable technology.

Since that time there have been many summits, but greenhouse gas emissions and global have been rising year after year, and spiking in the past three years. Half of the greenhouse gases now in the atmosphere have been released within the past three decades. This means that despite being aware of the risks of continuing to burn fossil fuels, and despite the good intentions of many, our fossil-fuel-based global civilization has doubled emissions in the thirty-plus years since the first climate agreement was signed in Rio.

Meanwhile, poverty continues and inequity grows. Poor and developing countries experience disproportionate harm from the early effects of climate change. Climate justice activists from vulnerable and hard-hit nations that have contributed least to climate change are still demanding that wealthier nations provide payment for loss and damage and phase out fossil fuels to limit emissions now.

This struggle continued to play out at COP 30. Conflicts between desperate demands for climate justice and a phaseout of fossil fuels continue and escalate at each climate conference. The only time the words “fossil fuels” were allowed into official documents was in 2023 at COP 28. At COP 30, the new “F” word was not included. Promises were made for developed nations to triple funding for adaptation for developing nations, but implementation was postponed until 2035. In a previous post, Competing Worldviews at COP 30, I describe the conflict of worldviews that continues to stall effective climate action, as well as the role of the church in addressing this challenge.

There are some positive developments. Near the end of COP 30 negotiations, the Governments of Colombia and the Netherlands announced plans for the first International Conference on the Just Transition Away from Fossil Fuels, to be held in Colombia in April 2026. Also, Cambodia became the 18th nation to join the call for negotiating a Fossil Fuel Treaty, adding to a rapidly expanding coalition also backed by 140 cities and subnational governments, the WHO, the European Parliament, over 4000 civil society organizations, 3,000+ scientists and academics, 101 Nobel laureates, more than 900 Parliamentarians across the world and many businesses. Fossil Free UMC has also endorsed this treaty. Finally, During COP 30, 62 more faith institutions announced that they were divesting from fossil fuels.

Searching online yields many reviews of COP 30, including at UM Insight. Many more articles will be posted in the next few days. Depending on one’s views, there is good news or bad news or both. Still, even the ever optimistic (and realistic and practical and tireless) Katherine Hayhoe, Evangelical Christian and climate scientist, has this to say:

“Here’s the problem, though. There is no path to meeting the Paris targets without almost entirely phasing out fossil fuels. This isn’t rocket science; it’s basic physics we’ve understood for over a century…The science is settled; what’s missing is the resolve to act on it. And the longer we wait, the higher the cost.” 

Friends, we must use the new "F" word, since fossil fuels are the primary cause of climate change. The cost of ignoring the need to phase out and divest from fossil fuels is too high, even if bringing it up is controversial or divisive: "the science is settled; what's missing is the resolve to act on it."

This is no time to mince words or try to craft a message that is palatable. This is no time to use words or images that will be less controversial or to downplay the seriousness or urgency or radical changes that are necessary to meet this challenge. We must not falsely imply that we can simply make small lifestyle changes or that the systems we take for granted can stay the same. It is time for prophetic words and courageous actions (like phasing out fossil fuels from our own investment portfolios), actions that demonstrate the extremity of our situation and the need for deep and lasting cultural, political, economic, and spiritual transformation.

We in the church are in a unique position to offer an alternative worldview that is life-giving. It is our great privilege and responsibility to offer a vision more aligned with values of the reign of God that Jesus demonstrated and proclaimed. \

The Rev.Sharon Delgado is the Convener of Fossil Free UMC and is on the Coordinating Committee of the United Methodist Creation Justice Movement. She is launching a virtual speaking tour in January, 2026, to coincide with the release of the revised edition of her book Love in a Time of Climate Change.