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The climate chief, Marina Silva, has called on every country to demonstrate the courage needed to confront the imperative of a worldwide fossil fuel phaseout, labeling the creation of a roadmap as an “moral” response to the global warming emergency.

The minister emphasized, though, that participation in this endeavor would be optional and “self-determined” for interested governments.

This issue stands as one of the most contentious matters at the COP30 in the host country, with nations divided over whether and in what way such a strategy can be discussed. As the host, the nation has maintained a balanced stance on which items can be included on the official schedule.

The official expressed support for the potential of a roadmap, without explicitly pledging the country to it. She remarked: “When we have a terrain that is quite grim, it is good that we have a map. But the guide does not compel us to proceed, or to climb.”

Speaking further, the minister added: “The roadmap is an response to our scientific knowledge [of the climate emergency]. It is an moral response.”

Dozens of nations meeting in Belém for the UN climate summit, which is entering its second week, are aiming to establish how a global transition of fossil fuels could be implemented. These nations hope to advance a historic resolution made two years ago at COP28 to “transition away from fossil fuels.”

That commitment lacked a schedule or details on how it could be achieved, and even though it was adopted unanimously, some nations have since attempted to back away from the promise. Attempts last year to elaborate on its practical meaning were stymied by opposition from oil-dependent nations at another UN summit.

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

Because of this, Brazil has been wary of demands by some countries to include the transition on the agenda for COP30. But the minister has strived in private to make sure the pledge could be discussed at the conference outside the formal agenda.

She won over the nation's leader, who gave public reference three times to the need to “shift from dependence on fossil fuels” at the global leaders' meeting that preceded the conference, and at the opening of the event.

“This is a matter that we understand at some point had to be raised, because it is the sole way to address the problem from the source,” the minister said. “We recognise that it is not easy, and we cannot offer false hopes. Bringing up the topic is courageous, and I wish [to see] this bravery from everyone, from producers and consumers.”

Brazil had not started the push for a phaseout, the minister clarified, because that had been done at COP28. Rather, it was enabling the talks to occur in accordance with what certain countries desired. “We understand these subjects are delicate. We will provide the opportunity to talk about it,” the minister said.

Time is insufficient at the summit to create a detailed plan, a task Silva said could take a number of years because many countries confronted complex issues around dependence on carbon-based energy, or aimed to use the proceeds from selling fossil fuels to finance their development.

“Brazil raises the subject, because it is simultaneously a producer and user,” the minister said. “But the nation is unique, because it, if it wants to, need not rely on non-renewables. We have to understand that there are some that rely on fossil fuels in their economic systems and lack easy alternatives, and some where oil and gas are the basis of their economic structure.

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

Should the pledge receives enough support, COP30 could set up a forum in which the work of creating a roadmap to the phaseout could begin.

The process would require dialogue with all signatory nations to the UN framework convention on climate change and criteria for how the initiative would proceed, Silva said. “Once we have standards, a governance structure can be drawn up; after we have a strategy, and create protections to be able to establish confidence in the process, I believe that with these elements we can turn good ideas into steps that are clearer, and more tangible.”

There is no guarantee that a suggestion to begin drawing up a roadmap would be accepted at the conference, even if it does not require the formal approval of the conference, which proceeds by consensus and can be hijacked by special interests. COP experts have indicated they think there could be support for such a proposal from about 60 countries, but there are believed to be at least 40 against. A total of 195 countries participating at the negotiations.

“In spite of 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 chunky group of nations publicly backing a path to achieving worldwide phaseout is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

“Put simply, there’s no path to a planet where temperature rise remains below 1.5 degrees in which nations cannot to discuss ending fossil fuel use.”

“We require this language for actual in this conversation. It’s highly illogical that we discuss all topics but that when fossil fuels are the actual problem.”

Negotiations carried on on the weekend on four outstanding topics that have not yet been incorporated into the official schedule: commerce, transparency, finance and how to address the shortfall between the emissions cuts nations have proposed and those required to hold to the 1.5-degree warming target.

A summit president promised a “note” that would address these matters, after consultations – which have been underway since Monday – were inconclusive. The official called on nations to embrace the “mutirão” attitude, referring to one of collaboration and constructive discussion.

Progress on additional substantive issues – such as adaptation to the impacts of the climate emergency, the fair shift for those impacted by the move to a low-carbon economy and how to build institutional capacity in developing countries – proceeded constructively, the host said.

Brazil’s lead representative stated the detailed part of the COP proceedings was nearing completion, and the high-level phase – when ministers who have the authority to change their countries’ positions arrive – was beginning.