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Brazil’s climate chief, Marina Silva, has called on every country to demonstrate the courage needed to address the imperative of a global fossil fuel phaseout, labeling the development of a detailed plan as an “ethical” answer to the global warming emergency.

The minister stressed, though, that involvement in this endeavor would be voluntary and “self-determined” for willing nations.

This issue remains one of the most debated matters at the COP30 in the host country, with countries split over if and in what way such a roadmap can be addressed. Hosting the event, the nation has adopted a balanced stance on what can be included on the official schedule.

Silva expressed support for the potential of a roadmap, without explicitly pledging Brazil to it. She remarked: “In times we have a terrain that is quite grim, it is good that we have a guide. But the map does not force us to travel, or to climb.”

Speaking further, the minister added: “The map is an response to our scientific knowledge [of the climate crisis]. It is an ethical answer.”

Scores of countries gathered in Belém for the UN climate summit, which is entering its second week, are seeking to establish how a global transition of fossil fuels could work. They hope to advance a historic agreement made two years ago at COP28 to “move away from fossil fuels.”

The commitment lacked a timetable or details on the way it could be realized, and even though it was adopted unanimously, several nations have later tried to disavow the promise. Efforts last year to elaborate on its real-world meaning were blocked by resistance from petrostates at COP29.

Consequently, there was no reference of the transition away from carbon fuels in the outcome of that conference.

For these reasons, the host has been cautious of calls by certain countries to include the transition on the agenda for the current summit. But the minister has worked hard in private to make sure the topic could be talked about at the conference apart from the formal agenda.

The minister convinced the nation's president, who gave mention repeatedly to the need to “shift from reliance on traditional energy” at the summit of world leaders that came before the conference, and at the opening of the event.

“This is something that we know at a certain time had to be raised, because it is the sole way to face the problem from the source,” the minister explained. “We recognise that it is challenging, and we cannot offer unrealistic expectations. Bringing up the subject is courageous, and I wish [to see] this bravery from everyone, from producing nations and using countries.”

Brazil had not started the call for a phaseout, the minister said, because that had been initiated at the earlier summit. Instead, it was allowing the talks to occur in accordance with what some nations wished. “We know these subjects are sensitive. We will provide the opportunity to discuss it,” she added.

Time is insufficient at COP30 to draw up a roadmap, a task the minister called could take several years because numerous nations faced complex challenges around dependence on carbon-based energy, or wanted to use the revenue from selling fossil fuels to fund their development.

“The country raises the topic, because Brazil is both a producer and user,” the minister said. “But the nation is unique, because it, if it chooses to, need not rely on non-renewables. We have to recognise that there are certain nations that depend on carbon energy in their economies and don’t have easy solutions, and others where fossil fuels are the foundation of their economy.

“To be fair is to be just to all, but the essential, basic fairness is not being unjust to the planet, because it is our home.”

Should the pledge receives enough backing, COP30 could establish a platform in which the work of creating a strategy to the phaseout could start.

This endeavor would require dialogue with all participating nations to the UN framework convention on climate change and guidelines for how the process would unfold, the minister explained. “Once we have criteria, a management framework can be developed; after we have a strategy, and create protections to be able to build trust in the process, I am confident that with these elements we can transform positive concepts into actions that are more defined, and more tangible.”

It is uncertain that a proposal to start developing a roadmap would win approval at the conference, even if it does not require the formal consent of the conference, which proceeds by consensus and can be hijacked by special interests. Climate analysts have indicated they think there could be support for such a idea from about sixty nations, but there are thought to be at least 40 opposed. A total of 195 nations participating at the negotiations.

“Despite being the primary source of global warming, fossil fuels are about the most divisive subject there is within the UN negotiations, so to see a chunky coalition of nations publicly supporting a route to achieving worldwide transition is in itself highly significant.”

“In simple terms, there’s no route to a world where temperature rise stays below 1.5C in which nations aren’t able to talk about ending fossil fuel use.”

“We need this language for actual in this conversation. It’s quite stupid that we talk about everything but then when the main issue are the real problem.”

Negotiations continued on the weekend on four outstanding issues that have not yet been included into the official agenda: trade, transparency, funding and how to tackle the gap between the emissions cuts nations have planned and those required to keep to the 1.5C temperature limit.

A summit president promised a “note” that would address these issues, after consultations – which have been going on since Monday – were inconclusive. The official urged nations to embrace the “mutirão” attitude, referring to one of cooperation and positive discussion.

Progress on other key issues – including adjustment to the impacts of the climate emergency, the just transition for those affected by the transition to a low-carbon economy and how to strengthen institutional capacity in less developed nations – carried on constructively, the presidency reported.

The host nation's lead representative stated the technical phase of the COP process was approaching completion, and the high-level stage – when ministers who have the authority to change their countries’ stances join – was beginning.