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Brazil’s environment minister, Marina Silva, has called on every country to show the bravery needed to address the imperative of a worldwide transition away from fossil fuels, labeling the creation of a detailed plan as an “ethical” answer to the global warming emergency.

She emphasized, though, that involvement in this endeavor would be voluntary and “independently decided” for interested governments.

The topic remains one of the most debated subjects at the UN climate summit in Brazil, with countries split over whether and how such a roadmap can be addressed. Hosting the event, Brazil has adopted a carefully neutral position on which items can be placed on the formal schedule.

The official expressed approval for the potential of a plan, though not directly pledging the country to it. She remarked: “When we have a situation that is very challenging, it is good that we have a map. But the map does not force us to proceed, or to advance.”

In an interview, she added: “The roadmap is an answer to our scientific knowledge [of the climate crisis]. It is an moral response.”

Dozens of nations meeting in Belém for the UN climate summit, which is entering its next phase, are seeking to establish how a global phaseout of fossil fuels could work. They aim to build on a historic agreement made two years ago at COP28 to “transition away from non-renewable energy sources.”

The commitment lacked a schedule or details on the way it could be realized, and although it was adopted by all, some nations have later attempted to back away from the promise. Efforts last year to elaborate on its real-world meaning were stymied by opposition from oil-dependent nations at another UN summit.

Consequently, there was no mention of the transition away from fossil fuels in the final agreement of that conference.

For these reasons, Brazil has been wary of calls by certain nations to place the transition on the agenda for COP30. But Silva has worked hard in private to ensure the topic could be talked about at the conference outside the formal agenda.

The minister convinced the nation's president, and he made public reference three times to the need to “move away from dependence on fossil fuels” at the global leaders' meeting that preceded COP30, and at the start of the summit.

“The issue is a matter that we know at some point had to be raised, because it is the sole way to address the problem from the source,” Marina Silva said. “We recognise that it is not easy, and we must not offer false hopes. Raising the subject is brave, and I hope [to see] this bravery from everyone, from producers and consumers.”

The nation had not started the call for a phaseout, the minister clarified, because that had been initiated at COP28. Rather, it was enabling the discussions to occur in accordance with what certain nations wished. “We understand these topics are delicate. We will provide the opportunity to talk about it,” the minister added.

There is not enough time at COP30 to create a detailed plan, a task Silva said could take several years because numerous countries faced complex issues around dependence on carbon-based energy, or wanted to use the revenue from exporting oil and gas to finance their economic growth.

“The country brings up the topic, because Brazil is both a producer and consumer,” the minister said. “But the nation is different, because Brazil, if it wants to, need not depend on fossil fuels. We have to understand that there are some that rely on fossil fuels in their economic systems and don’t have simple solutions, and others where fossil fuels are the basis of their economy.

“To be just is to be just to all, but the fundamental, primordial fairness is to avoid being unjust to the planet, because it is our shared home.”

Should the pledge gains enough support, COP30 could set up a platform in which the process of creating a roadmap to the phaseout could begin.

The process would involve discussions with every signatory countries to the UN climate treaty and criteria for how the process would unfold, the minister explained. “Once we have standards, a management framework can be drawn up; once we have a plan, and create protections to be able to establish trust in the system, I believe that with these components we can transform positive concepts into steps that are more defined, and more tangible.”

It is uncertain that a suggestion to begin developing a roadmap would be accepted at COP30, even if it does not require the formal consent of the summit, which proceeds by consensus and can be disrupted by particular groups. Climate analysts have suggested they think there could be support for such a proposal from about sixty countries, but there are thought to be at least forty against. A total of 195 nations represented at the talks.

“Despite being the primary source of climate change, fossil fuels are about the most divisive topic there is within the international climate talks, so to see a sizable coalition of nations publicly backing a path to achieving global transition is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

“Put simply, there’s no route to a world where temperature rise stays below 1.5 degrees in which nations aren’t able to discuss ending fossil fuel use.”

“We need this language for real in this conversation. It’s highly illogical that we talk about all topics but then when fossil fuels are the real problem.”

Discussions carried on on the weekend on four unresolved topics that have not yet been included into the formal agenda: trade, openness, finance and how to tackle the shortfall between the carbon reduction nations have planned and those required to keep to the 1.5C temperature target.

The COP30 chair pledged a “note” that would address these issues, after consultations – which have been underway since Monday – were unresolved. He urged nations to adopt the “mutirão” spirit, referring to one of cooperation and positive dialogue.

Progress on other key topics – including adaptation to the impacts of the climate crisis, the just transition for those affected by the transition to a low-carbon economy and how to strengthen governance capabilities in less developed nations – carried on productively, the presidency reported.

Brazil’s chief negotiator said the technical phase of the summit process was nearing the end, and the high-level phase – when ministers who have the authority to alter their nations' positions arrive – was starting.