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Brazil’s environment minister, the minister, has urged every country to demonstrate the courage needed to address the imperative of a global transition away from fossil fuels, describing the creation of a detailed plan as an “moral” response to the climate crisis.

She stressed, though, that participation in this process would be optional and “self-determined” for willing nations.

The topic stands as one of the most debated matters at the UN climate summit in Brazil, with nations split over whether and how such a roadmap can be addressed. As the host, Brazil has adopted a balanced stance on what can be placed on the formal schedule.

The official voiced support for the possibility of a roadmap, though not directly pledging Brazil to it. The minister remarked: “In times we have a situation that is quite grim, it is helpful that we have a map. But the guide does not compel us to proceed, or to climb.”

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

Scores of countries gathered in Belém for the global climate conference, which is entering its second week, are aiming to establish how a global transition of oil, gas, and coal could be implemented. These nations aim to build on a landmark agreement reached two years ago at COP28 to “transition away from non-renewable energy sources.”

That pledge lacked a schedule or specifics on how it could be achieved, and even though it was adopted by all, some nations have since attempted to disavow the promise. Attempts last year to elaborate on its real-world implications were blocked by opposition from petrostates at another UN summit.

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

Because of this, Brazil has been wary of calls by certain countries to include the transition on the agenda for COP30. But Silva has strived in private to make sure the topic could be discussed at the summit outside the formal program.

She won over the nation's leader, and he made public reference repeatedly to the need to “shift from reliance on traditional energy” at the global leaders' meeting that preceded the conference, and at the opening of the summit.

“This is a matter that we know at a certain time had to be raised, because it is the sole way to address the issue from the source,” Marina Silva explained. “We acknowledge that it is not easy, and we must not sell false hopes. Bringing up the topic is brave, and I hope [to see] this bravery from all, from producers and consumers.”

The nation had not initiated the push for a phaseout, she clarified, because that had been done at the earlier summit. Rather, it was allowing the talks to take place in line with what certain nations wished. “We understand these topics are sensitive. We will give the chance to talk about it,” the minister added.

Time is insufficient at the summit to draw up a detailed plan, a process Silva said could take a number of years because many nations faced complicated issues around reliance on fossil fuels, or wanted to use the revenue from selling fossil fuels to fund their economic growth.

“The country brings up the subject, because it is both a producer and consumer,” the minister said. “But the nation is different, because Brazil, if it chooses to, need not rely on fossil fuels. We have to recognise that there are some that rely on carbon energy in their economic systems and lack easy solutions, and some where fossil fuels are the foundation of their economic structure.

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

If the proposal gains enough support, COP30 could set up a platform in which the process of drawing up a roadmap to the phaseout could start.

The process would involve dialogue with every signatory nations to the UN climate treaty and criteria for how the process would proceed, Silva explained. “Once we have standards, a management framework can be drawn up; once we have a plan, and establish safeguards to be able to build trust in the system, I believe that with these components we can transform positive concepts into actions that are more defined, and more concrete.”

It is uncertain that a suggestion to begin developing a plan would win approval at COP30, although it may not need the formal approval of the conference, which operates by unanimous agreement and can be hijacked by special interests. Climate experts have indicated they believe there could be support for such a idea from about 60 nations, but there are believed to be at least 40 opposed. There are 195 countries represented at the talks.

“In spite of being the root cause of global warming, fossil fuels are about the most contentious topic there is within the UN negotiations, so to see a chunky coalition of countries publicly supporting a route to achieving worldwide phaseout is in itself highly significant.”

“Put simply, there’s no route to a world where warming remains below 1.5 degrees in which countries cannot to discuss fossil fuel phaseout.”

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

Negotiations carried on on Saturday on several outstanding topics that have not yet been incorporated into the formal schedule: commerce, openness, funding and how to tackle the gap between the emissions cuts nations have proposed and those required to keep to the 1.5-degree temperature target.

A summit president pledged a “note” that would address these issues, after consultations – which have been going on since the start of the week – were inconclusive. He called on nations to embrace the “mutirão” attitude, meaning one of collaboration and positive dialogue.

Progress on additional key topics – such as adaptation to the effects of the climate emergency, the fair shift for those affected by the move to a low-carbon economic system and how to strengthen institutional capacity in less developed nations – carried on productively, the presidency reported.

The host nation's lead representative stated the detailed part of the COP process was nearing completion, and the high-level phase – when ministers who have the power to alter their countries’ stances arrive – was beginning.