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Brazil’s climate chief, the minister, has called on every country to demonstrate the courage needed to address the necessity of a worldwide transition away from fossil fuels, describing the development of a detailed plan as an “ethical” answer to the global warming emergency.

She emphasized, however, that participation in this endeavor would be optional and “self-determined” for interested nations.

This issue remains one of the most debated matters at the COP30 in the host country, with countries divided over whether and in what way such a roadmap can be discussed. Hosting the event, Brazil has adopted a balanced position on what can be placed on the formal agenda.

Silva voiced approval for the possibility of a roadmap, though not explicitly pledging Brazil to it. The minister stated: “In times we have a terrain that is quite grim, it is good that we have a map. But the guide does not force us to proceed, or to advance.”

Speaking further, she noted: “The map is an answer to our scientific understanding [of the climate crisis]. It is an moral answer.”

Dozens of countries meeting in Belém for the global climate conference, which is starting its next phase, are seeking to establish how a worldwide phaseout of fossil fuels could work. These nations hope to build on a historic resolution reached two years ago at a previous UN summit to “move away from fossil fuels.”

That pledge had no a schedule or details on how it could be realized, and although it was passed by all, some countries have later attempted to back away from the pledge. Efforts last year to elaborate on its practical meaning were blocked by opposition from petrostates at another UN summit.

Consequently, there was no mention of the transition away from carbon fuels in the outcome of COP29.

Because of this, the host has been cautious of demands by some countries to place the phaseout on the schedule for the current summit. But Silva has worked hard in private to ensure the pledge could be talked about at the conference apart from the official agenda.

She convinced Brazil’s leader, and he made public reference repeatedly to the need to “shift from reliance on traditional energy” at the global leaders' meeting that came before COP30, and at the opening of the event.

“This is something that we understand at some point had to be put forward, because it is the sole way to address the issue from the source,” Marina Silva explained. “We acknowledge that it is not easy, and we must not offer unrealistic expectations. Bringing up the topic is courageous, and I hope [to see] this courage from everyone, from producers and using countries.”

Brazil had not started the push for a phaseout, she said, because that had been done at the earlier summit. Instead, it was enabling the discussions to occur in line with what certain countries desired. “We understand these subjects are sensitive. We will give the chance to discuss it,” she added.

Time is insufficient at the summit to create a detailed plan, a process the minister called could take several years because many nations faced complex issues around dependence on fossil fuels, or aimed to use the proceeds from selling fossil fuels to finance their development.

“The country raises the subject, because it is both a producing nation and user,” she said. “But the nation is different, because it, if it wants to, does not have to rely on non-renewables. We have to recognise that there are some that rely on carbon energy in their economic systems and lack simple solutions, and some where fossil fuels are the basis of their economy.

“To be fair is to be fair to everyone, but the fundamental, primordial justice is to avoid being unjust to the planet, because it is our shared home.”

Should the pledge receives enough support, COP30 could set up a platform in which the process of creating a strategy to the phaseout could start.

This endeavor would involve dialogue with every participating countries to the UN framework convention on climate change and criteria for how the process would unfold, the minister said. “After we have standards, a governance structure can be drawn up; after we have a plan, and create protections to be able to establish trust in the system, I believe that with these elements we can transform positive concepts into steps that are more defined, and more tangible.”

It is uncertain that a proposal to begin drawing up a roadmap would win approval at COP30, although it does not require the formal approval of the conference, which operates by consensus and can be disrupted by special interests. COP analysts have suggested they think there could be backing for such a idea from about 60 nations, but there are thought to be at least 40 against. A total of 195 nations represented at the talks.

“In spite of being the primary source of climate change, carbon-based energy are about the most divisive topic there is within the international climate talks, so to see a chunky coalition of nations publicly supporting a route to achieving global phaseout is in itself highly significant.”

“In simple terms, there’s no path to a world where warming stays below 1.5C in which nations cannot to discuss fossil fuel phaseout.”

“We need this wording for real in this discussion. It’s highly illogical that we talk about everything but then when fossil fuels are the real challenge.”

Discussions continued on the weekend on four unresolved topics that have not yet been included into the official schedule: trade, openness, funding and how to address the shortfall between the emissions cuts countries have planned and those needed to keep to the 1.5C warming limit.

The COP30 chair promised a “note” that would address these matters, after consultations – which have been underway since the start of the week – were inconclusive. He urged countries to adopt the “mutirão” spirit, meaning one of cooperation and constructive discussion.

Progress on other key topics – such as adjustment to the effects of the climate crisis, the just transition for those impacted by the transition to a low-carbon economic system and how to build institutional capacity in less developed nations – carried on productively, the host reported.

Brazil’s lead representative said the detailed phase of the summit proceedings was nearing completion, and the political phase – when government leaders who have the authority to change their nations' positions join – was beginning.