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Brazil’s climate chief, the minister, has called on all nations to show the courage needed to confront the necessity of a worldwide fossil fuel phaseout, describing the creation of a roadmap as an “ethical” response to the global warming emergency.

The minister emphasized, though, that involvement in this endeavor would be optional and “independently decided” for interested nations.

This issue stands as one of the most debated matters at the COP30 in Brazil, with nations divided over whether and how such a strategy can be discussed. Hosting the event, the nation has adopted a balanced position on what can be placed on the official agenda.

The official expressed approval for the possibility of a roadmap, without directly pledging the country to it. She remarked: “When we have a situation that is quite grim, it is good that we have a guide. But the guide does not force us to travel, or to climb.”

Speaking further, she noted: “The map is an response to our scientific understanding [of the climate emergency]. It is an moral answer.”

Dozens of countries gathered in Belém for the global climate conference, which is starting its second week, are aiming to determine how a global transition of oil, gas, and coal could work. These nations aim to build on a historic resolution reached two years ago at a previous UN summit to “transition away from non-renewable energy sources.”

The commitment had no a schedule or details on the way it could be achieved, and although it was passed by all, some nations have later attempted to back away from the promise. Efforts last year to elaborate on its real-world implications were blocked by opposition from petrostates at COP29.

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

Because of this, the host has been wary of demands by certain countries to include the phaseout on the schedule for the current summit. But Silva has strived behind the scenes to ensure the topic could be talked about at the summit outside the official agenda.

The minister won over Brazil’s president, and he gave mention three times to the need to “move away from dependence on traditional energy” at the global leaders' meeting that came before COP30, and at the opening of the event.

“The issue is something that we understand at a certain time had to be put forward, because it is the sole way to address the problem from the source,” the minister said. “We recognise that it is challenging, and we must not offer unrealistic expectations. Bringing up the topic is brave, and I wish [to see] this courage from all, from producing nations and using countries.”

The nation had not initiated the push for a transition, the minister said, because that had been initiated at the earlier summit. Instead, it was allowing the talks to take place in accordance with what some nations desired. “We understand these subjects are sensitive. We will give the chance to discuss 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 numerous countries faced complicated issues around reliance on fossil fuels, or aimed to use the revenue from exporting oil and gas to finance their development.

“The country raises the subject, because it is both a producing nation and user,” she said. “But Brazil is unique, because it, if it chooses to, does not have to depend on non-renewables. We have to understand that there are some that depend on fossil fuels in their economic systems and lack simple alternatives, and others where fossil fuels are the foundation of their economy.

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

Should the pledge receives enough backing, COP30 could establish a platform in which the process of drawing up a roadmap to the transition could start.

This process would involve discussions with all signatory countries to the UN framework convention on climate change and guidelines for how the process would unfold, Silva said. “Once we have criteria, a management framework can be developed; after we have a strategy, and establish protections to be able to establish confidence in the process, I am confident that with these components we can turn positive concepts into steps that are clearer, and more tangible.”

It is uncertain that a proposal to begin developing a roadmap would be accepted at COP30, even if it may not need the formal consent of the conference, which proceeds by unanimous agreement and can be hijacked by particular groups. Climate analysts have indicated they think there could be support for such a proposal from about sixty countries, but there are believed to be at least 40 against. A total of one hundred ninety-five countries participating at the talks.

“In spite of being the root cause of global warming, fossil fuels are about the most divisive subject there is within the UN negotiations, so to see a chunky group of nations publicly backing a path to realizing worldwide phaseout is in itself highly significant.”

“In simple terms, there’s no route to a planet where warming remains below 1.5C in which nations cannot to discuss fossil fuel phaseout.”

“We require this wording for real in this conversation. It’s quite stupid that we talk about everything but then when the main issue are the actual challenge.”

Discussions continued on the weekend on four outstanding issues that have not yet been included into the official schedule: commerce, transparency, finance and how to tackle the shortfall between the carbon reduction countries have proposed and those needed to keep to the 1.5-degree temperature target.

The summit chair pledged a “note” that would address these issues, after consultations – which have been underway since Monday – were inconclusive. He called on countries to adopt the “mutirão” spirit, referring to one of cooperation and positive discussion.

Work on additional substantive issues – such as adjustment to the effects of the climate crisis, the just transition for those impacted by the move to a low-carbon economy and how to build institutional capacity in less developed nations – proceeded constructively, the host said.

Brazil’s lead representative said the detailed part of the COP process was nearing the end, and the high-level phase – when government leaders who have the power to alter their nations' stances join – was starting.