Julia Simon

I would say some of the countries I spoke to would say frustrating is an understatement.

Climate change is happening.

And many countries came to Belém explicitly demanding language in the final agreement about a roadmap away from fossil fuels.

In fact, many countries, like the United Kingdom, Mexico, Norway, they said they didn't want to leave the conference without that fossil fuel roadmap language.

Hmm.

Did they get their roadmap?

No.

No mention of fossil fuels.

Wow.

And so, like we said, many countries are deeply frustrated with this UN process.

It's a process by consensus, Emily.

So every country has to agree to the text of this agreement.

And you have close to 200 countries in the process.

And while Norway and Mexico are oil producers and they want a roadmap off of fossil fuels,

Some other big oil producers, like Saudi Arabia, they do not.

So you have some countries pretty consistently blocking text that mentions fossil fuels.

Interesting.

So this is the dynamic at COP.

Is anyone doing anything about it?

Well, remember that guy we met from the top of the episode, Andres Gomez from Colombia?