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Brazil’s climate chief, Marina Silva, has called on every country to demonstrate the bravery needed to address the necessity of a worldwide transition away from fossil fuels, describing the development of a detailed plan as an “moral” response to the global warming emergency.

The minister stressed, however, that involvement in this endeavor would be optional and “independently decided” for interested nations.

This issue remains one of the most contentious matters at the UN climate summit in the host country, with countries split over whether and in what way such a roadmap can be discussed. As the host, the nation has adopted a carefully neutral position on which items can be placed on the formal agenda.

The official expressed support for the potential of a roadmap, though not explicitly pledging the country to it. The minister remarked: “When we have a terrain that is quite grim, it is good that we have a guide. But the guide does not compel us to travel, or to climb.”

Speaking further, she added: “The map is an response to our scientific understanding [of the climate emergency]. It is an moral response.”

Scores of countries meeting in Belém for the UN climate summit, which is entering its second week, are aiming to determine how a worldwide transition of oil, gas, and coal could be implemented. These nations hope to build on a landmark agreement made two years ago at a previous UN summit to “move away from non-renewable energy sources.”

The commitment had no a schedule or specifics on how it could be achieved, and although it was adopted unanimously, some countries have since tried to disavow the pledge. Attempts last year to elaborate on its real-world meaning were stymied by opposition from oil-dependent nations at COP29.

Consequently, there was no mention of the transition away from carbon fuels in the outcome of that conference.

For these reasons, the host has been cautious of demands by some countries to place the phaseout on the agenda for COP30. But Silva has strived behind the scenes to make sure the topic could be talked about at the conference apart from the official agenda.

She won over the nation's leader, and he made public reference three times to the need to “shift from reliance on traditional energy” at the global leaders' meeting that came before COP30, and at the start of the event.

“The issue is something that we know at a certain time had to be put forward, because it is the only way to address the issue from the source,” Marina Silva explained. “We recognise that it is challenging, and we must not 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 started the push for a transition, she clarified, because that had been initiated at COP28. Rather, it was enabling the discussions to occur in accordance with what some nations desired. “We understand these topics are sensitive. We will give the opportunity to talk about it,” the minister said.

Time is insufficient at COP30 to create a roadmap, a process the minister said could take a number of years because numerous countries confronted complex issues around reliance on carbon-based energy, or wanted to use the revenue from selling oil and gas to fund their development.

“The country raises the topic, because it is simultaneously a producing nation and user,” the minister noted. “But Brazil is unique, because it, if it chooses to, need not depend on fossil fuels. We have to understand that there are certain nations that depend on fossil fuels in their economies and lack simple solutions, and others where fossil fuels are the basis of their economy.

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

Should the proposal gains sufficient support, the summit could establish a forum in which the work of drawing up a roadmap to the phaseout could start.

This endeavor would involve dialogue with all participating countries to the UN framework convention on climate change and guidelines for how the process would unfold, the minister explained. “After we have standards, a management framework can be drawn up; once we have a strategy, and create safeguards to be able to build confidence in the system, I believe that with these elements we can turn good ideas into actions that are clearer, and more concrete.”

There is no guarantee that a proposal to start drawing up a roadmap would be accepted at COP30, although it may not need the official consent of the conference, which proceeds by consensus and can be disrupted by special interests. Climate analysts have indicated they believe there could be backing for such a proposal from about sixty countries, but there are thought to be at least forty against. There are 195 countries participating at the negotiations.

“Despite being the primary source of climate change, carbon-based energy are about the most contentious topic there is within the UN negotiations, so to see a chunky coalition of countries openly supporting a path to realizing global phaseout is in itself highly significant.”

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

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

Negotiations carried on on Saturday on several unresolved issues that have not yet been included into the official schedule: trade, transparency, funding and how to address the gap between the emissions cuts nations have proposed and those required to hold to the 1.5C temperature target.

The COP30 chair promised a “note” that would cover these matters, after discussions – which have been underway since the start of the week – were inconclusive. The official urged nations to adopt the “mutirão” attitude, referring to one of cooperation and constructive dialogue.

Progress on other substantive issues – including adaptation to the effects of the climate crisis, the fair shift for those affected by the transition to a green economic system and how to strengthen institutional capacity in less developed nations – carried on productively, the host said.

Brazil’s lead representative stated the detailed phase of the COP proceedings was approaching completion, and the high-level stage – when government leaders who have the power to change their countries’ stances arrive – was beginning.