At COP30, the Brazilian Presidency announced the “Roadmap for Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels” (the TAFF Roadmap) as its flagship initiative. However, it did not secure clear consensus in the cover decision, reportedly due to divisions among Parties. To maintain momentum, the Presidency has proposed developing a science-based, inclusive TAFF Roadmap in the lead-up to COP31 in Antalya.
As the specific objectives, content and process for developing the TAFF Roadmap remain undefined, the First International Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels is scheduled to take place on 24-29 April 2026 in Santa Marta, with outcomes expected to feed directly into the Presidency’s Roadmap.
To inform decision-makers, this discussion paper outlines illustrative options for how the TAFF Roadmap could be shaped at the level of international coordination and what each option could achieve.
Key messages:
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The international pursuit of a Transition Away from Fossil Fuels (TAFF) can take different forms, ranging from an official guidance document to a broad, implementation-focused and legally binding international treaty. Each option involves trade-offs between impact and political feasibility.
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In the current political climate, the most effective and feasible way to maximise the Roadmap’s impact is a “Coalition Roadmap,” championed by a group of willing countries committed to phasing out fossil fuels.
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To advance this approach, the COP30 Presidency should publish a high-ambition roadmap and invite first-mover countries to endorse it. This should include a recurring forum to develop the Coalition Roadmap further and coordinate action on shared targets, pathways and policies.
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First-mover countries should adopt credible national implementation plans to phase out fossil fuels and scale up clean energy, demonstrating the benefits of transition and encouraging broader uptake by other countries.
