Business calls on leaders at COP30 to agree on roadmap away from fossil fuels
We Mean Business Coalition
19 November, 2025 – As the UN climate conference enters its final days and President Lula is expected in Belem, more than 130 organizations, including leading businesses, are urging governments to agree to start developing a roadmap to transition away from fossil fuels, as agreed under the first Global Stocktake at COP28 in Dubai.
A letter signed by ACCIONA, Buro Happold, EDF, Fortescue, H&M Group, Ingka Group, Fortescue Natura, Saint-Gobain, Signify, SSAB, SSE plc, Strega, Unilever, Vattenfall, VELUX and Volvo Cars, business groups representing more than 100,000 companies, IIGCC investor group representing more than 400 members with over £50trillion in assets under management, C40 network of cities, health organizations and other implementation actors, underscores the value of a clear roadmap as real-world momentum accelerates the shift to clean energy.
The letter to the COP Presidency states: “A robust, credible roadmap would help countries and businesses plan the shift to clean energy, strengthen energy security and reduce costs for consumers. Anchoring the roadmap in real-world momentum toward clean energy and electrification would provide much-needed clarity for investment and national implementation […]
“With coherent long-term direction from governments negotiating in Belem, a roadmap can become a practical tool to accelerate action and investment well beyond COP30.”
It also affirms that any roadmap away from fossil fuels will need to reflect the “different starting points” across countries and regions, and be co-developed to support a fair transition.
The letter was coordinated by business climate action non-profit We Mean Business Coalition, a coalition made up of Climate Group, Ceres, WBCSD, BSR, Corporate Leaders Groups, B Team and CDP.
Maria Mendiluce, CEO, We Mean Business Coalition said: “At COP30 we know the real economy is telling us two things: clean energy is accelerating fast, and fossil fuels can be phased out. Business has adjusted its investment decisions to these facts. Now governments need to be bold enough to align national policy with the transition that is already happening. A roadmap from COP30 would give countries the clarity and structure needed to catch up on the emissions reductions gap.”
Signatories include representatives from businesses, business groups and NGOs working closely with businesses, sub-national governments, cities, and other groups and organisations from across sectors, countries and regions working directly on implementation of the clean energy transition.
Rana Adib, Executive Director, REN21 said: “This roadmap – shifting from fossil fuels to renewables – is the only way to build strong, equitable and resilient economies. Recognising that it goes beyond a simple fuel switch, to a systems change in every sector. Delivering this at COP30 underscores our collective responsibility to make renewables the backbone of the new global economy and society – and to act with the ambition this moment demands.”
María Teresa Ruiz-Tagle, Executive Director, CLG Chile said: “From Latin America – a region that has made bold progress in renewable energy – we believe the world is ready to deliver a roadmap for electrification that is not only credible, but catalytic. One that accelerates the shift across sectors, ensures energy security, enables agile permitting, mobilizes finance, makes prices affordable, fosters technological innovation, and pushes a just transition at its core. This roadmap must be built collectively – with businesses, researchers, governments, and citizens – and grounded in cooperation and regional integration, so it becomes not just a plan, but a mandate for implementation, resilience, and shared prosperity.”
Professor Miranda Barker, Chair, RedCAT Group said: “We, as businesses, call for the unanimous recognition of the importance of the transition towards clean electrification and renewables. The signing of a fossil fuel roadmap proposition by all governments would at long last give true recognition to the biggest climate challenge – and opportunity – of our lifetimes.”
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Notes to editors
A link to the letter and signatory list can be found here.
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About: We Mean Business Coalition works with the world’s most influential businesses to take action on climate change. The Coalition is a group of seven nonprofit organisations: BSR, CDP, Ceres, Climate Group, CLG Europe, The B Team and WBCSD. Together, we catalyse business and policy action to halve emissions by 2030 and accelerate an inclusive transition to a net-zero economy.