55891 (2025). Francisco Hernandez to the Minister of Climate Change

55891 (2025). Francisco Hernandez to the Minister of Climate Change: Was New Zealand asked to be part of the Belem declaration on the phase out of fossil fuels, if so, on which date, if at all, did New Zealand communicate it's decision back?

Hon Simon Watts: There has been some inaccurate COP30 media coverage mischaracterising the Belem Declaration as a call for fossil fuel phase out. The Declaration is in fact deliberately consistent with the COP28 outcome language on transition away from fossil fuels (TAFF). The Declaration was one of several efforts by varying groups of countries seeking to build momentum for COP30 to advance a TAFF “Roadmap”. New Zealand was not individually approached by proponent Colombia seeking support for the Declaration. New Zealand was also not approached to be part of the separate UK-Marshall Islands-led COP30 joint press announcement calling for a TAFF Roadmap. This announcement has also at times been confused with the Belem Declaration in media reporting, but not all countries involved in the UK-Marshall Islands-led COP30 joint press announcement supported the Colombia-led Declaration. The UK for example did not endorse the Belem Declaration. Australia is the only Umbrella Group country to have done so.