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Brazil’s climate chief, Marina Silva, has urged every country to show the courage needed to address the necessity of a global transition away from fossil fuels, labeling the creation of a roadmap as an “moral” response to the global warming emergency.

She stressed, however, that participation in this process would be optional and “independently decided” for willing nations.

This issue remains one of the most contentious matters at the UN climate summit in Brazil, with nations split over whether and in what way such a roadmap can be discussed. As the host, the nation has maintained a balanced position on what can be placed on the official agenda.

Silva expressed support for the possibility of a roadmap, though not directly committing the country to it. She stated: “When we have a situation that is very challenging, it is good that we have a guide. But the guide does not compel us to proceed, or to climb.”

In an interview, the minister noted: “The map is an response to our scientific understanding [of the climate emergency]. It is an moral response.”

Scores of nations meeting in Belém for the UN climate summit, which is starting its next phase, are seeking to determine how a worldwide phaseout of fossil fuels could be implemented. These nations aim to build on a historic resolution made two years ago at COP28 to “move away from fossil fuels.”

That pledge lacked a timetable or specifics on the way it could be realized, and even though it was adopted unanimously, some countries have since tried to back away from the pledge. Attempts last year to expand on its real-world meaning were stymied by opposition from petrostates at COP29.

As a result, there was no mention of the shift away from fossil fuels in the final agreement of COP29.

Because of this, 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 discussed at the conference apart from the formal program.

She won over the nation's leader, and he made mention three times to the need to “shift from dependence on fossil fuels” at the global leaders' meeting that came before the conference, and at the start of the summit.

“This is a matter that we understand at a certain time had to be raised, because it is the sole way to address the problem from the root,” Marina Silva explained. “We acknowledge that it is challenging, and we cannot offer false hopes. Bringing up the subject is courageous, and I hope [to see] this courage from all, from producing nations and consumers.”

Brazil had not initiated the call for a phaseout, she clarified, because that had been done at the earlier summit. Rather, it was allowing the talks to take place in accordance with what some countries desired. “We understand these subjects are delicate. We will provide the chance to talk about it,” the minister said.

Time is insufficient at COP30 to create a detailed plan, a task the minister said could take a number of years because many nations confronted complicated issues around reliance on carbon-based energy, or wanted to use the proceeds from exporting fossil fuels to fund their development.

“Brazil raises the topic, because it is simultaneously a producer and consumer,” the minister said. “But the nation is unique, because it, if it chooses to, does not have to depend on non-renewables. We have to understand that there are some that rely on carbon energy in their economies and don’t have easy alternatives, and others where oil and gas are the foundation of their economic structure.

“To be just is to be just to everyone, but the fundamental, primordial fairness is not being unjust to the planet, because it is our home.”

If the proposal receives sufficient backing, COP30 could set up a forum in which the work of drawing up a strategy to the phaseout could begin.

This endeavor would involve dialogue with all signatory nations to the UN framework convention on climate change and guidelines for how the process would unfold, the minister explained. “After we have criteria, a management framework can be drawn up; after we have a strategy, and establish safeguards to be able to build confidence in the system, I am confident that with these components we can transform good ideas into steps that are clearer, and more tangible.”

There is no guarantee that a suggestion to start developing a plan would be accepted at COP30, even if it does not require the formal approval of the conference, which operates by consensus and can be hijacked by special interests. COP analysts have indicated they think there could be support for such a proposal from about 60 nations, but there are thought to be at least forty opposed. There are 195 countries participating at the talks.

“In spite of being the root cause of global warming, fossil fuels are about the most divisive subject there is within the UN negotiations, so to see a chunky group of nations openly supporting a route to realizing worldwide transition is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

“Put simply, there’s no route to a world where warming remains below 1.5 degrees in which nations cannot to discuss ending fossil fuel use.”

“We need this language for actual in this conversation. It’s quite stupid that we discuss everything but that when fossil fuels are the actual problem.”

Discussions continued on the weekend on several outstanding issues that have still not been included into the official schedule: trade, openness, funding and how to address the shortfall between the emissions cuts countries have proposed and those needed to hold to the 1.5C temperature limit.

The summit president promised a “note” that would address these issues, after consultations – which have been underway since the start of the week – were inconclusive. He called on countries to embrace the “mutirão” attitude, referring to one of cooperation and constructive discussion.

Progress on additional substantive topics – such as adaptation to the effects of the climate emergency, the just transition for those affected by the move to a green economic system and how to strengthen institutional capacity in less developed nations – proceeded constructively, the host said.

The host nation's chief negotiator stated the technical phase of the COP proceedings was approaching completion, and the political phase – when government leaders who have the authority to change their nations' stances arrive – was beginning.