Like a finite stash of old dinosaur and plant juice

Editor's note: In a moment of cosmic climate comedy, COP30 — the global conference on preventing the world from overheating and burning to a crisp — literally went up in smoke. Delegates fled as a fire broke out in the venue, proving once and for all that the climate agenda isn't just figuratively burning… it's now running live demonstrations. Nothing says "we've lost control" quite like a climate summit needing a fire brigade. At this point, the planet isn't sending hints — it's doing slapstick. And of course, the discussions were centered on "fossil fuels" (the scam fed by big oil), a term many critics argue is misleading since geological science shows hydrocarbons don't behave like a finite stash of old dinosaur and plant juice. So while delegates debated phase-outs, the building itself offered a more urgent message: maybe the problem isn't the terminology — maybe the entire climate change agenda is just on fire.

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Fire disrupts COP30 climate talks as UN chief urges deal

21 November 2025 | By CNA

BELEM: Talks at the COP30 climate summit in Brazil were disrupted on Thursday (Nov 20) after a fire broke out in the venue, triggering an evacuation just as negotiators were hunkering down to try to land a deal to strengthen international climate efforts.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had appealed earlier in the day for a deal from the summit in the Amazon city of Belem, welcoming calls from some for clarity on the hotly disputed subject of weaning the world off fossil fuels.

There are less than 24 hours until the scheduled end of the summit to find a consensus among nearly 200 participating countries.

Host nation Brazil has framed a deal as a crucial step towards ramping up international climate action and demonstrating that there is broad support to accelerate turning decades of promises and pledges from COP summits into action.

Shortly after lunchtime, however, security footage showed flames breaking out at an exhibition pavilion and spreading rapidly up an internal fabric shell that lined the walls and ceiling of the building, before being extinguished.

Thirteen people were treated for smoke inhalation at the venue, organisers said. The local fire service said it was probably caused by electrical equipment, likely a microwave, and was controlled within six minutes.

Thousands of delegates were evacuated as security staff formed a human barrier across the hallway.

Singapore's Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu said the Singapore team has evacuated and is safe.

"We hope that everyone has managed to evacuate safely as well," she wrote in a Facebook post.

DRAFTING DOCUMENTS, DEADLINES MISSED

Negotiations were not expected to resume until Friday morning, a source told Reuters. Consultations between the presidency and negotiating blocs could continue on Thursday night, subject to safety assessments at the venue.

The summit already missed a self-imposed Wednesday deadline to secure agreement among the countries present on issues including how to increase climate finance and shift away from fossil fuels. [Editor's note: If readers are not familiar with what abiotic oil is it might be a good time to watch this presentation.]

Brazil circulated a draft proposal for part of the COP30 deal among some governments on Thursday, which did not include a roadmap on transitioning away from fossil fuels.

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