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Brazil’s environment minister, Marina Silva, has urged all nations to demonstrate the bravery needed to confront the imperative of a global fossil fuel phaseout, describing the creation of a roadmap as an “moral” response to the climate crisis.

She stressed, though, that involvement in this endeavor would be voluntary and “self-determined” for willing governments.

The topic remains one of the most debated subjects at the COP30 in the host country, with countries split over if and in what way such a roadmap can be addressed. Hosting the event, Brazil has maintained a carefully neutral stance on what can be included 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: “In times we have a terrain that is quite grim, it is good that we have a guide. But the guide does not compel us to proceed, or to climb.”

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

Dozens of countries gathered in the host city for the UN climate summit, which is entering its next phase, are seeking to establish how a worldwide phaseout of fossil fuels could be implemented. They aim to advance a landmark agreement reached two years ago at COP28 to “move away from non-renewable energy sources.”

The commitment had no a timetable or specifics on the way it could be realized, and even though it was passed by all, several nations have since tried to back away from the pledge. Attempts last year to elaborate on its real-world implications were blocked by resistance from petrostates at COP29.

Consequently, there was no reference of the shift away from carbon fuels in the final agreement of that conference.

For these reasons, the host has been wary of demands by certain countries to place the transition on the schedule for COP30. But the minister has strived behind the scenes to make sure the topic could be discussed at the conference apart from the official agenda.

The minister convinced Brazil’s president, and he gave public reference three times to the need to “shift from dependence on traditional energy” at the global leaders' meeting that preceded the conference, and at the opening of the summit.

“This is something that we know at some point had to be put forward, because it is the sole way to address the problem from the source,” Marina Silva explained. “We acknowledge that it is challenging, and we cannot sell false hopes. Raising the subject is courageous, and I hope [to see] this bravery from everyone, from producing nations and consumers.”

The nation had not initiated the call for a phaseout, she said, because that had been done at COP28. Rather, it was allowing the discussions to take place in line with what some countries wished. “We know these topics are delicate. We will give the chance to discuss it,” the minister said.

Time is insufficient at COP30 to create a roadmap, a process Silva said could take several years because numerous countries confronted complex issues around reliance on fossil fuels, or wanted to use the proceeds from exporting fossil fuels to fund their development.

“Brazil brings up the subject, because it is simultaneously a producer and user,” the minister noted. “But the nation is unique, because Brazil, if it wants to, does not have to rely on fossil fuels. We have to recognise that there are certain nations that rely on fossil fuels in their economies and don’t have simple alternatives, and some where oil and gas are the foundation of their economy.

“To be just is to be fair to everyone, but the fundamental, primordial justice is not being unjust to the planet, because it is our shared home.”

If the pledge receives enough support, the summit could establish a platform in which the work of creating a strategy to the transition could begin.

The endeavor would involve dialogue with all participating nations to the UN framework convention on climate change and guidelines for how the initiative would proceed, Silva said. “After we have criteria, a management framework can be developed; after we have a strategy, and create safeguards to be able to build confidence in the system, I am confident that with these components we can turn good ideas into steps that are clearer, and more tangible.”

There is no guarantee that a suggestion to begin developing a plan would win approval at COP30, even if it does not require the formal approval of the conference, which operates by unanimous agreement and can be disrupted by special interests. COP analysts have suggested they believe there could be backing for such a proposal from about 60 nations, but there are thought to be at least forty opposed. There are one hundred ninety-five nations represented at the negotiations.

“Despite being the primary source of climate change, carbon-based energy are about the most divisive topic there is within the UN negotiations, so to see a sizable group of nations openly backing a path to achieving global transition is in itself highly significant.”

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

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

Negotiations carried on on the weekend on several unresolved topics that have still not been incorporated into the formal agenda: commerce, transparency, funding and how to address the gap between the emissions cuts countries have planned and those required to keep to the 1.5C warming target.

The COP30 president pledged a “note” that would address these issues, after discussions – which have been underway since the start of the week – were inconclusive. He urged nations to adopt the “mutirão” spirit, meaning one of collaboration and positive dialogue.

Work on additional substantive topics – including adaptation to the effects of the climate crisis, the just transition for those affected by the transition to a low-carbon economic system and how to strengthen governance capabilities in less developed nations – carried on constructively, the presidency reported.

Brazil’s chief negotiator stated the detailed phase of the summit proceedings was approaching the end, and the political stage – when ministers who have the power to change their countries’ stances arrive – was beginning.