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Brazil’s environment minister, Marina Silva, has urged every country to demonstrate the bravery needed to confront the imperative of a global transition away from fossil fuels, labeling the creation of a roadmap as an “moral” response to the climate crisis.

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

This issue stands as one of the most debated subjects at the COP30 in the host country, with nations divided over if and in what way such a roadmap can be addressed. Hosting the event, the nation has maintained a carefully neutral position on which items can be placed on the formal schedule.

The official voiced support for the potential of a roadmap, though not directly committing Brazil to it. The minister stated: “When we have a terrain that is quite grim, it is good that we have a map. But the map does not compel us to travel, or to advance.”

Speaking further, the minister noted: “The roadmap is an response to our scientific understanding [of the climate emergency]. It is an ethical response.”

Scores of nations gathered in Belém for the global climate conference, which is entering its next phase, are seeking to determine how a worldwide phaseout of oil, gas, and coal could be implemented. They hope to build on a landmark agreement made two years ago at COP28 to “transition away from fossil fuels.”

The commitment had no a schedule or details on the way it could be achieved, and although it was passed unanimously, some nations have since attempted to disavow the pledge. Attempts last year to expand on its practical implications were stymied by resistance from petrostates at COP29.

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

For these reasons, the host has been cautious of calls by some nations to place the transition on the agenda for the current summit. But Silva has worked hard behind the scenes to make sure the pledge could be talked about at the conference apart from the official program.

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

“This is a matter that we understand at some point had to be put forward, because it is the only way to address the issue from the root,” Marina Silva explained. “We acknowledge that it is not easy, and we cannot sell unrealistic expectations. Raising the subject is brave, and I hope [to see] this courage from everyone, from producing nations and using countries.”

Brazil had not started the call for a phaseout, the minister clarified, because that had been done at COP28. Instead, it was allowing the talks to take place in line with what certain nations desired. “We understand these subjects are delicate. We will provide the opportunity to discuss it,” the minister added.

There is not enough time at the summit to draw up a detailed plan, a process Silva called could take a number of years because many countries faced complicated challenges around dependence on fossil fuels, or aimed to use the proceeds from selling oil and gas to finance their economic growth.

“Brazil brings up the topic, because it is simultaneously a producing nation and user,” she said. “But Brazil is different, because it, if it chooses to, does not have to rely on non-renewables. We have to understand that there are certain nations that rely on carbon energy in their economies and don’t have easy alternatives, and some where oil and gas are the basis of their economy.

“To be just is to be fair to all, but the essential, basic fairness is to avoid being unfair to the Earth, because it is our shared home.”

Should the pledge receives enough support, the summit could set up a platform in which the work of creating a strategy to the phaseout could begin.

The process would require discussions with every participating countries to the UN climate treaty and guidelines for how the process would proceed, Silva said. “After we have standards, a governance structure can be drawn up; once we have a plan, and create safeguards to be able to build confidence in the process, I am confident that with these components we can turn positive concepts into actions that are clearer, and more concrete.”

There is no guarantee that a proposal to begin developing a plan would be accepted at the conference, even if it does not require the official consent of the conference, which proceeds by consensus and can be disrupted by particular groups. COP experts have indicated they think there could be backing for such a idea from about sixty countries, but there are believed to be at least 40 against. A total of one hundred ninety-five nations participating at the talks.

“In spite of being the root cause of global warming, carbon-based energy are about the most divisive subject there is within the UN negotiations, so to see a sizable group of countries openly supporting a path to realizing worldwide transition is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

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

“We need this wording for real in this conversation. It’s highly illogical that we discuss all topics but then when the main issue are the actual problem.”

Discussions carried on on Saturday on several unresolved issues that have still not been incorporated into the formal agenda: trade, transparency, funding and how to address the gap between the emissions cuts countries have proposed and those needed to keep to the 1.5-degree warming target.

A summit chair promised a “document” that would cover these matters, after consultations – which have been underway since Monday – were inconclusive. The official called on nations to adopt the “mutirão” attitude, meaning one of cooperation and positive discussion.

Work on additional key topics – such as adaptation to the effects of the climate emergency, the just transition for those affected by the transition to a green economy and how to strengthen institutional capacity in developing countries – carried on constructively, the host reported.

Brazil’s chief negotiator said the technical part of the COP process was nearing completion, and the political phase – when government leaders who have the authority to change their nations' stances join – was starting.