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The climate chief, Marina Silva, has urged every country to show the bravery needed to confront the necessity of a global fossil fuel phaseout, describing the creation of a roadmap as an “moral” response to the climate crisis.

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

The topic stands as one of the most debated matters at the COP30 in the host country, with nations divided over whether and how such a strategy can be discussed. As the host, the nation has maintained a balanced stance on what can be placed on the official 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 quite grim, it is helpful that we have a guide. But the guide does not compel us to proceed, or to climb.”

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

Scores of nations meeting in the host city for the UN climate summit, which is entering its next phase, are aiming to determine how a worldwide transition of fossil fuels could be implemented. They aim to build on a landmark agreement made two years ago at a previous UN summit to “move away from fossil fuels.”

The pledge had no a timetable or details on the way it could be achieved, and although it was passed by all, several nations have later attempted to disavow the pledge. Efforts last year to expand on its practical implications were blocked by opposition from oil-dependent nations at COP29.

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

Because of this, Brazil has been cautious of calls by some nations to place the transition on the agenda for the current summit. But the minister has worked hard in private to make sure the pledge could be talked about at the conference outside the formal program.

The minister convinced the nation's leader, who made public reference repeatedly to the need to “move away from reliance on traditional energy” at the global leaders' meeting that came before the conference, and at the opening of the summit.

“This is a matter that we know at a certain time had to be put forward, because it is the sole way to face the problem from the root,” the minister explained. “We recognise that it is challenging, and we must not sell false hopes. Raising the topic is courageous, and I hope [to see] this courage from all, from producers and using countries.”

The nation had not started the push for a phaseout, she clarified, because that had been initiated at COP28. Rather, it was allowing the talks to occur in accordance with what some countries desired. “We understand these subjects are delicate. We will provide the chance to talk about it,” the minister said.

There is not enough time at the summit to create a roadmap, a task the minister said could take a number of years because many nations confronted complicated challenges around dependence on carbon-based energy, or aimed to use the proceeds from selling fossil fuels to fund their economic growth.

“Brazil brings up the subject, because it is simultaneously a producer and user,” she noted. “But Brazil is different, because it, if it wants to, does not have to depend on fossil fuels. We have to recognise that there are some that depend on carbon energy in their economic systems and lack simple solutions, and others where fossil fuels are the basis of their economy.

“To be fair is to be just to all, but the fundamental, primordial fairness is not being unjust to the Earth, because it is our shared home.”

If the pledge gains sufficient backing, COP30 could set up a forum in which the work of creating a roadmap to the transition could begin.

This endeavor would involve dialogue with every participating countries to the UN climate treaty and guidelines for how the initiative would unfold, the minister explained. “Once we have criteria, a governance structure can be drawn up; after we have a plan, and create safeguards to be able to establish trust in the process, I am confident that with these components we can turn good ideas into steps that are more defined, and more concrete.”

It is uncertain that a suggestion to start developing a roadmap would win approval at COP30, even if it may not need the formal approval of the conference, which proceeds by consensus and can be hijacked by particular groups. COP analysts have indicated they think there could be backing for such a proposal from about sixty nations, but there are thought to be at least 40 opposed. A total of 195 countries represented at the negotiations.

“Despite being the primary source of climate change, fossil fuels are about the most divisive topic there is within the UN negotiations, so to see a sizable coalition of nations openly supporting a route to realizing worldwide transition is in itself highly significant.”

“In simple terms, there’s no route to a world where warming stays below 1.5C in which nations aren’t able to discuss ending fossil fuel use.”

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

Discussions continued on the weekend on several unresolved issues that have not yet been incorporated into the formal agenda: commerce, transparency, funding and how to tackle the shortfall between the emissions cuts nations have proposed and those needed to keep to the 1.5-degree temperature limit.

A COP30 president promised a “note” that would address these issues, after consultations – which have been underway since the start of the week – were unresolved. He called on nations to adopt the “mutirão” attitude, meaning one of cooperation and constructive discussion.

Work on other key topics – including adaptation to the impacts of the climate emergency, the fair shift for those impacted by the move to a low-carbon economic system and how to build governance capabilities in developing countries – proceeded constructively, the host said.

The host nation's lead representative stated the technical part of the summit proceedings was approaching completion, and the high-level phase – when ministers who have the power to change their nations' stances join – was starting.