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Brazil’s environment minister, the minister, has urged every country to demonstrate the bravery needed to address the imperative of a worldwide transition away from fossil fuels, labeling the development of a roadmap as an “ethical” answer to the global warming emergency.

She stressed, however, that involvement in this endeavor would be optional and “self-determined” for willing governments.

The topic remains one of the most debated subjects at the UN climate summit in Brazil, with countries divided over whether and how such a strategy can be addressed. As the host, the nation has maintained a carefully neutral stance on what can be included on the formal schedule.

Silva voiced support for the potential of a roadmap, though not directly pledging the country to it. She remarked: “When we have a terrain that is quite grim, it is helpful that we have a guide. But the guide does not compel us to travel, or to advance.”

In an interview, she added: “The map is an answer to our scientific understanding [of the climate emergency]. It is an moral answer.”

Scores of nations meeting in Belém for the global climate conference, which is starting its next phase, are aiming to determine how a global transition of oil, gas, and coal could be implemented. These nations hope to advance a historic agreement made two years ago at a previous UN summit to “transition away from fossil fuels.”

The commitment lacked a timetable or specifics on how it could be achieved, and although it was passed unanimously, some countries have later attempted to disavow the pledge. Attempts last year to elaborate on its real-world implications were stymied by resistance from oil-dependent nations at COP29.

As a result, there was no mention of the shift away from carbon fuels in the outcome of COP29.

Because of this, Brazil has been cautious of demands by certain nations to include the phaseout on the agenda for the current summit. But Silva has strived in private to ensure the pledge could be talked about at the summit apart from the formal program.

She won over Brazil’s president, who made mention repeatedly to the need to “move away from dependence on fossil fuels” at the global leaders' meeting that preceded the conference, and at the start of the summit.

“This is something that we understand at some point had to be raised, because it is the only way to face the issue from the source,” Marina Silva explained. “We acknowledge that it is challenging, and we cannot offer unrealistic expectations. Bringing up the topic is courageous, and I hope [to see] this bravery from all, from producing nations and using countries.”

The nation had not initiated the push for a phaseout, the minister said, because that had been done at the earlier summit. Rather, it was enabling the talks to take place in line with what certain nations wished. “We know these subjects are delicate. We will give the opportunity to talk about it,” the minister said.

There is not enough time at COP30 to create a roadmap, a process the minister said could take several years because numerous nations faced complicated challenges around reliance on carbon-based energy, or aimed to use the proceeds from exporting fossil fuels to fund their development.

“The country raises the topic, because Brazil is both a producing nation and user,” the minister noted. “But the nation is different, because it, if it chooses to, does not have to rely on non-renewables. We have to recognise that there are certain nations that rely on carbon energy in their economies and lack easy alternatives, and others where fossil fuels are the basis of their economy.

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

If the proposal gains enough support, the summit could establish a forum in which the process of creating a roadmap to the transition could start.

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

It is uncertain that a proposal to begin drawing up a plan would win approval at the conference, although it may not need the official consent of the summit, which operates by consensus and can be disrupted by special interests. COP experts have indicated they think there could be backing for such a idea from about sixty nations, but there are believed to be at least forty against. A total of one hundred ninety-five nations participating at the talks.

“Despite being the root cause of climate change, fossil fuels are about the most divisive subject there is within the international climate talks, so to see a chunky coalition of countries openly supporting a route to realizing worldwide phaseout is in itself highly significant.”

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

“We require this wording for real in this conversation. It’s highly illogical that we talk about all topics but that when the main issue are the real problem.”

Negotiations carried on on the weekend on several unresolved topics that have still not been incorporated into the formal schedule: commerce, openness, finance and how to tackle the gap between the emissions cuts nations have planned and those needed to hold to the 1.5-degree warming limit.

The summit chair pledged a “document” that would address these matters, after consultations – which have been going on since Monday – were unresolved. The official called on nations to embrace the “mutirão” attitude, referring to one of cooperation and positive discussion.

Work on other substantive topics – such as adjustment 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 developing countries – proceeded constructively, the presidency reported.

The host nation's chief negotiator said the detailed phase of the COP process was nearing completion, and the political stage – when government leaders who have the authority to alter their countries’ positions arrive – was beginning.