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

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

The topic stands as one of the most debated subjects at the UN climate summit in the host country, with nations divided over if and how such a roadmap can be discussed. As the host, Brazil has adopted a carefully neutral stance on what can be included on the formal schedule.

Silva expressed support for the possibility of a plan, though not explicitly committing the country to it. The minister stated: “In times we have a terrain 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, she added: “The roadmap is an response to our scientific knowledge [of the climate emergency]. It is an moral answer.”

Dozens of countries gathered in Belém for the global climate conference, which is entering its next phase, are seeking to establish how a worldwide phaseout of fossil fuels could be implemented. They hope to advance a historic resolution reached two years ago at COP28 to “move away from fossil fuels.”

The commitment had no a timetable or details on the way it could be realized, and even though it was passed unanimously, some countries have since attempted to disavow the promise. Attempts last year to elaborate on its real-world meaning were blocked by opposition from oil-dependent nations at another UN summit.

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

Because of this, the host has been wary of calls by some nations to include the transition on the agenda for COP30. But Silva has worked hard behind the scenes to make sure the pledge could be talked about at the conference outside the official agenda.

She won over Brazil’s president, who made public reference repeatedly to the need to “shift from reliance on traditional energy” at the summit of world leaders that came before COP30, and at the opening of the event.

“The issue is a matter that we know at some point had to be raised, because it is the only way to face the issue from the root,” Marina Silva explained. “We recognise that it is challenging, and we cannot sell unrealistic expectations. Raising the subject is courageous, and I wish [to see] this bravery from everyone, from producing nations and consumers.”

Brazil had not initiated the call for a phaseout, the minister clarified, because that had been initiated at the earlier summit. Instead, it was enabling the discussions to take place in line with what certain countries wished. “We know these topics are sensitive. We will provide the chance to talk about it,” the minister added.

Time is insufficient at the summit to draw up a roadmap, a task Silva said could take a number of years because many countries confronted complicated challenges around dependence on carbon-based energy, or wanted to use the proceeds from selling fossil fuels to fund their economic growth.

“The country raises the topic, because Brazil is both a producer and consumer,” the minister noted. “But Brazil is unique, because it, if it wants to, need not depend on non-renewables. We have to recognise that there are certain nations that depend on fossil fuels in their economic systems and lack simple solutions, and others where oil and gas are the basis of their economy.

“To be fair is to be fair to all, but the essential, basic fairness is to avoid being unjust to the planet, because it is our home.”

Should the pledge receives enough backing, the summit could set up a platform in which the process of creating a strategy to the transition could begin.

This process would involve dialogue with every participating countries to the UN framework convention on climate change and guidelines for how the initiative would proceed, Silva said. “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 elements we can turn good ideas into steps that are more defined, and more tangible.”

It is uncertain that a suggestion to start drawing up a roadmap would be accepted at the conference, although it does not require the formal approval of the summit, which proceeds by unanimous agreement and can be hijacked by particular groups. COP experts have indicated they think there could be support for such a idea 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 talks.

“Despite being the primary source of climate change, carbon-based energy are about the most contentious subject there is within the international climate talks, so to see a chunky coalition of nations openly supporting a path to achieving global transition is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

“In simple terms, there’s no path to a planet where temperature rise remains below 1.5 degrees in which nations cannot to talk about ending fossil fuel use.”

“We need this language for real in this discussion. It’s quite stupid that we talk about everything but that when fossil fuels are the real problem.”

Negotiations carried on on Saturday on four unresolved issues that have not yet been included into the official agenda: trade, transparency, finance and how to address the gap between the carbon reduction countries have proposed and those required to keep to the 1.5-degree temperature limit.

The COP30 chair promised a “document” that would address these issues, after discussions – which have been underway since Monday – were unresolved. The official urged countries to adopt the “mutirão” attitude, meaning one of cooperation and constructive discussion.

Work on other key topics – including adjustment to the effects of the climate emergency, the fair shift for those affected by the transition to a green economy and how to strengthen governance capabilities in less developed nations – carried on constructively, the presidency reported.

Brazil’s lead representative stated the detailed phase of the COP proceedings was nearing the end, and the high-level phase – when government leaders who have the power to alter their nations' stances join – was beginning.