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Brazil’s environment minister, the minister, has urged all nations to show the courage needed to address the imperative of a global transition away from fossil fuels, labeling the creation of a roadmap as an “ethical” answer to the climate crisis.

The minister stressed, however, that involvement in this process would be voluntary and “self-determined” for interested governments.

The topic remains one of the most contentious subjects at the COP30 in the host country, with countries split over if and how such a strategy can be addressed. As the host, the nation has maintained a balanced stance on which items can be placed on the formal agenda.

Silva voiced support for the potential of a plan, without directly committing the country to it. She stated: “When we have a situation that is very challenging, it is helpful that we have a guide. But the map does not force us to proceed, or to advance.”

Speaking further, she added: “The roadmap is an response to our scientific knowledge [of the climate emergency]. It is an moral response.”

Scores of countries meeting in the host city for the global climate conference, which is entering its next phase, are aiming to establish how a global phaseout of oil, gas, and coal could work. They aim to advance a historic agreement made two years ago at COP28 to “move away from fossil fuels.”

That commitment lacked a schedule or specifics on the way it could be achieved, and although it was passed unanimously, several countries have later attempted to disavow the promise. Attempts last year to expand on its real-world meaning were stymied by opposition from petrostates at another UN summit.

As a result, there was no reference of the transition away from carbon fuels in the final agreement of COP29.

For these reasons, Brazil has been cautious of calls by certain countries to place the phaseout on the agenda for the current summit. But Silva has worked hard in private to make sure the pledge could be discussed at the conference outside the formal agenda.

She convinced the nation's leader, and he gave public reference three times to the need to “shift from reliance on traditional energy” at the global leaders' meeting that preceded the conference, and at the start of the summit.

“The issue is something that we understand at a certain time had to be put forward, because it is the only way to address the problem from the source,” Marina Silva explained. “We acknowledge that it is challenging, and we must not sell unrealistic expectations. Raising the subject is brave, and I wish [to see] this bravery from everyone, from producers and consumers.”

The nation had not initiated the push for a transition, the minister said, because that had been initiated at COP28. Rather, it was enabling the talks to occur in line with what certain nations wished. “We know these subjects are sensitive. We will provide the chance to talk about it,” the minister said.

Time is insufficient at COP30 to draw up a detailed plan, a process the minister called could take several years because numerous countries faced complicated issues around dependence on carbon-based energy, or wanted to use the revenue from exporting oil and gas to finance their economic growth.

“The country raises the topic, because Brazil is both a producer and consumer,” the minister said. “But Brazil is unique, because Brazil, if it wants to, need not rely on fossil fuels. We have to recognise that there are some that depend on fossil fuels in their economies and don’t have simple alternatives, and others where oil and gas are the foundation of their economic structure.

“To be fair is to be just to all, but the fundamental, basic justice is not being unfair to the Earth, because it is our home.”

Should the proposal receives enough support, the summit could establish a forum in which the work of drawing up a roadmap to the phaseout could start.

This endeavor would require dialogue with all participating countries to the UN framework convention on climate change and guidelines for how the process would unfold, Silva explained. “After we have criteria, a management framework can be drawn up; once we have a plan, and create protections to be able to build trust in the system, I am confident that with these elements we can transform good ideas into steps that are clearer, and more concrete.”

It is uncertain that a suggestion to begin drawing up a plan would be accepted at the conference, although it may not need the formal consent of the summit, which proceeds by unanimous agreement and can be disrupted by particular groups. Climate experts have indicated they think there could be backing for such a proposal from about sixty nations, but there are believed to be at least 40 opposed. A total of one hundred ninety-five nations represented at the negotiations.

“In spite of being the root cause of global warming, fossil fuels are about the most divisive subject there is within the international climate talks, so to see a chunky group of countries publicly supporting a route to realizing global phaseout is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

“Put simply, there’s no route to a world where warming stays below 1.5C in which countries cannot to talk about ending fossil fuel use.”

“We need this wording for real in this discussion. It’s quite stupid that we talk about all topics but that when fossil fuels are the real challenge.”

Discussions carried on on the weekend on four outstanding topics that have not yet been included into the official schedule: commerce, openness, funding and how to tackle the gap between the emissions cuts countries have planned and those needed to hold to the 1.5-degree warming target.

A summit president pledged a “note” that would cover these issues, after discussions – which have been underway since the start of the week – were inconclusive. The official called on nations to embrace the “mutirão” attitude, meaning one of cooperation and positive discussion.

Progress on additional key topics – such as adjustment to the impacts of the climate emergency, the just transition for those affected by the transition to a low-carbon economic system and how to build governance capabilities in less developed nations – carried on constructively, the host reported.

The host nation's lead representative stated the technical phase of the summit process was nearing completion, and the high-level stage – when government leaders who have the authority to alter their nations' positions arrive – was beginning.