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The environment minister, Marina Silva, has called on all nations to show the courage needed to address the imperative of a global fossil fuel phaseout, describing the creation of a roadmap as an “moral” response to the global warming emergency.

The minister stressed, though, that participation in this endeavor would be optional and “independently decided” for willing nations.

This issue stands as one of the most contentious matters at the UN climate summit in Brazil, with countries split over if and how such a strategy can be discussed. As the host, Brazil has adopted a balanced stance on which items can be placed on the official schedule.

The official expressed support for the possibility of a roadmap, though not explicitly pledging Brazil to it. The minister stated: “When we have a terrain that is very challenging, it is good that we have a map. But the map does not force us to travel, or to climb.”

Speaking further, the minister added: “The map is an response to our scientific understanding [of the climate crisis]. It is an ethical answer.”

Dozens of countries meeting in Belém for the UN climate summit, which is starting its next phase, are aiming to establish how a worldwide transition of fossil fuels could work. These nations aim to advance a historic agreement made two years ago at COP28 to “transition away from non-renewable energy sources.”

That commitment lacked a timetable or specifics on how it could be achieved, and although it was adopted by all, some countries have since attempted to back away from the pledge. Attempts last year to elaborate on its practical implications were stymied by opposition from petrostates at COP29.

As a result, there was no mention of the shift away from carbon fuels in the final agreement of COP29.

For these reasons, Brazil has been wary of demands by certain nations to place the phaseout on the agenda for COP30. But the minister has strived in private to ensure the pledge could be discussed at the summit outside the formal program.

She won over Brazil’s president, who made public reference repeatedly to the need to “shift from reliance on fossil fuels” 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 face the problem from the source,” the minister explained. “We acknowledge that it is challenging, and we cannot sell false hopes. Bringing up the subject is courageous, and I wish [to see] this courage from all, from producing nations and using countries.”

Brazil had not started the push for a phaseout, the minister said, because that had been initiated at COP28. Instead, 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 opportunity to discuss it,” the minister added.

Time is insufficient at COP30 to draw up a detailed plan, a task the minister called could take several years because many countries confronted complicated challenges around reliance on fossil fuels, or aimed to use the revenue from exporting fossil fuels to finance their development.

“Brazil raises the topic, because it is simultaneously a producer and consumer,” she noted. “But Brazil is different, because Brazil, if it wants to, does not have to rely on non-renewables. We have to recognise that there are certain nations that rely on carbon energy in their economic systems and don’t have simple solutions, and some where oil and gas are the foundation of their economic structure.

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

If the pledge gains enough support, COP30 could establish a platform in which the process of drawing up a strategy to the transition could begin.

This process would require discussions with every participating countries to the UN climate treaty and criteria for how the initiative would unfold, the minister explained. “Once we have standards, a governance structure can be developed; once we have a strategy, and create safeguards to be able to establish trust in the system, I am confident that with these elements we can transform good ideas into actions that are more defined, and more concrete.”

There is no guarantee that a suggestion to begin developing a roadmap would win approval at COP30, even if it does not require the formal approval of the conference, which proceeds by unanimous agreement and can be hijacked by particular groups. Climate analysts have suggested they think there could be support for such a proposal from about 60 nations, but there are thought to be at least 40 opposed. A total of one hundred ninety-five nations participating at the negotiations.

“Despite being the root cause of global warming, carbon-based energy are about the most divisive topic there is within the UN negotiations, so to see a chunky group of countries publicly backing a route to achieving worldwide transition is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

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

“We require this wording for real in this conversation. It’s highly illogical that we talk about all topics but then when the main issue are the actual challenge.”

Discussions continued on the weekend on several unresolved issues that have not yet been incorporated into the formal agenda: commerce, openness, funding and how to tackle the gap between the emissions cuts countries have proposed and those needed to hold to the 1.5C temperature target.

A summit president pledged a “note” that would cover these issues, after discussions – which have been going on since Monday – were inconclusive. He urged countries to adopt the “mutirão” attitude, meaning one of cooperation and constructive discussion.

Work on additional key topics – including adaptation to the impacts of the climate crisis, the fair shift for those impacted by the move to a low-carbon economic system and how to strengthen governance capabilities in less developed nations – proceeded constructively, the host said.

Brazil’s chief negotiator stated the detailed phase of the COP process was nearing the end, and the high-level phase – when government leaders who have the authority to change their nations' stances arrive – was beginning.