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Brazil’s environment minister, Marina Silva, has urged all nations to demonstrate the courage needed to address the necessity of a worldwide transition away from fossil fuels, describing the development of a roadmap as an “moral” response to the climate crisis.

She emphasized, however, that participation in this endeavor would be optional and “self-determined” for interested nations.

The topic remains one of the most contentious matters at the UN climate summit in Brazil, with nations split over if and how such a roadmap can be addressed. As the host, Brazil has adopted a balanced stance on which items can be placed on the formal agenda.

Silva voiced support for the possibility of a roadmap, without directly committing Brazil to it. The minister stated: “In times we have a situation that is very challenging, it is good that we have a map. But the guide does not compel us to proceed, or to advance.”

In an interview, the minister added: “The map is an answer to our scientific knowledge [of the climate emergency]. It is an ethical response.”

Scores of countries gathered in the host city for the global climate conference, which is entering its next phase, are aiming to determine how a global phaseout of oil, gas, and coal could work. They hope to advance a historic resolution made two years ago at COP28 to “transition away from fossil fuels.”

That commitment had no a timetable or details on how it could be realized, and even though it was passed unanimously, several nations have since tried to back away from the promise. Attempts last year to expand on its real-world meaning were stymied by opposition from petrostates at COP29.

As a result, there was no reference of the transition away from carbon fuels in the final agreement of that conference.

Because of this, Brazil has been cautious of calls by some nations to include the phaseout on the schedule for COP30. But the minister has strived in private to make sure the topic could be discussed at the conference apart from the official program.

The minister won over the nation's leader, who made public reference three times to the need to “move away from dependence on traditional energy” at the global leaders' meeting that preceded COP30, and at the start of the summit.

“This is something that we understand at some point had to be put forward, because it is the only way to face the issue from the source,” the minister 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 all, from producing nations and using countries.”

Brazil had not initiated the push for a phaseout, the minister clarified, because that had been initiated at the earlier summit. Instead, it was allowing the talks to occur in accordance with what certain countries desired. “We understand these topics are delicate. We will provide the opportunity to discuss it,” the minister said.

There is not enough time at COP30 to create a detailed plan, a task the minister called could take several years because numerous nations confronted complicated challenges around reliance on fossil fuels, or aimed to use the proceeds from selling oil and gas to finance their development.

“Brazil raises the topic, because it is simultaneously a producing nation and user,” she noted. “But the nation is different, because Brazil, if it chooses to, does not have to rely on fossil fuels. We have to understand that there are certain nations that depend on carbon energy in their economies and don’t have simple alternatives, and some where fossil fuels are the foundation of their economy.

“To be fair is to be fair to everyone, but the fundamental, basic fairness is not being unfair to the planet, because it is our home.”

If the pledge receives enough support, the summit could establish a forum in which the process of drawing up a strategy to the transition could start.

The process would require dialogue with every signatory nations to the UN climate treaty and criteria for how the process would unfold, Silva said. “Once we have criteria, a management framework can be developed; after we have a strategy, and establish safeguards to be able to build confidence in the process, I believe that with these elements we can transform positive concepts into actions that are more defined, and more concrete.”

It is uncertain that a suggestion to start developing a roadmap would win approval at COP30, although it may not need the formal consent of the summit, which proceeds by consensus and can be disrupted by particular groups. Climate analysts have suggested they believe there could be backing for such a idea from about 60 nations, but there are believed to be at least 40 opposed. A total of one hundred ninety-five countries represented at the talks.

“In spite of being the root cause of climate change, carbon-based energy are about the most contentious subject there is within the international climate talks, so to see a sizable coalition of nations openly backing a path to realizing worldwide transition is in itself highly significant.”

“In simple terms, there’s no route to a planet where warming stays below 1.5C in which nations aren’t able to talk about fossil fuel phaseout.”

“We need this wording for actual in this conversation. It’s highly illogical that we talk about everything but that when fossil fuels are the actual problem.”

Discussions carried on on Saturday on four outstanding topics that have not yet been included into the formal schedule: trade, transparency, finance and how to tackle the shortfall between the emissions cuts countries have planned and those needed to keep to the 1.5-degree temperature limit.

A COP30 chair promised a “note” that would cover these issues, after consultations – which have been going on since the start of the week – were unresolved. The official called on countries to adopt the “mutirão” attitude, referring to one of cooperation and constructive discussion.

Progress on additional key issues – such as adjustment to the effects of the climate crisis, the fair shift for those impacted by the transition to a low-carbon economic system and how to build institutional capacity in developing countries – proceeded productively, the presidency reported.

Brazil’s lead representative stated the detailed phase of the summit process was approaching the end, and the political phase – when ministers who have the authority to change their countries’ positions arrive – was starting.