Sustainable Fuels as a Priority at COP30

At the 30th Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC (COP30), Brazil seeks to position sustainable fuels at the centre of global climate efforts through the Belém Commitment for Sustainable Fuels (“Belém 4x”), a call for quadrupling the production and use of sustainable fuels by 2035.

IGES invited João Marcos Paes Leme, Director of the Energy Department at Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to provide an in-depth perspective on this initiative and its implications for the global energy transition.

With insights from Paes Leme, this webinar explored how the Belém 4x seeks to secure international support to accelerate the shift towards cleaner alternatives such as hydrogen, biofuels and synthetic fuels. With Japan, Italy and India already on board, we examined why this initiative can serve as a key political signal for enhanced international cooperation.

Furthermore, the webinar addressed why sustainable fuels are not only vital for decarbonisation but also for achieving equitable growth, enhancing energy security, and realising COP30’s vision of a just and inclusive energy transition.

This event provided an opportunity to gain deeper insight into the evolving global landscape of sustainable fuels and the political momentum driving it forward.

About João Marcos Paes Leme:
João Marcos Paes Leme, has been a Brazilian career diplomat since 1998 and is currently the Director of the Energy Department at Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He has served at Brazil's missions in the United Kingdom (2018-2023 & 2013-2016), People’s Republic of China (2016-2018), Russian Federation (2007-2009) and the European Union in Brussels (2004-2007). Formerly he also held positions including Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs (2011-2013) and as Press officer at the Office of Foreign Minister (2009-2010). In addition to native Portuguese, he speaks English, French, Spanish, German and Russian.