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The climate chief, the minister, has urged every country to show the courage needed to address the imperative of a global transition away from fossil fuels, labeling the creation of a roadmap as an “moral” answer to the global warming emergency.

The minister emphasized, however, that participation in this endeavor would be voluntary and “independently decided” for willing nations.

This issue stands as one of the most contentious subjects at the UN climate summit in the host country, with countries divided over if and in what way such a strategy can be addressed. As the host, Brazil has maintained a carefully neutral position on what can be placed on the formal schedule.

Silva voiced approval for the possibility of a roadmap, though not explicitly pledging Brazil to it. The minister remarked: “In times we have a situation that is very challenging, it is good that we have a guide. But the guide does not compel us to proceed, or to advance.”

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

Scores of countries gathered in Belém for the UN climate summit, which is starting its next phase, are seeking to establish how a worldwide phaseout of fossil fuels could be implemented. They aim to advance a historic agreement reached two years ago at a previous UN summit to “transition away from fossil fuels.”

That pledge lacked a timetable or specifics on how it could be realized, and even though it was passed by all, several countries have since tried to disavow the promise. Efforts last year to expand on its real-world implications were blocked by resistance from petrostates at another UN summit.

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

For these reasons, Brazil has been cautious of calls by certain nations to include the phaseout on the schedule for the current summit. But Silva has worked hard behind the scenes to make sure the pledge could be talked about at the conference outside the official agenda.

She won over the nation's president, who made public reference repeatedly 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 a certain time had to be raised, because it is the sole way to face the problem from the root,” Marina Silva said. “We recognise that it is not easy, and we cannot sell unrealistic expectations. Raising the subject is brave, and I wish [to see] this courage from everyone, from producers and consumers.”

Brazil had not initiated the call for a transition, she said, because that had been initiated at COP28. Rather, it was enabling the talks to occur in accordance with what some nations desired. “We know these subjects are sensitive. We will give the opportunity to talk about it,” she said.

There is not enough time at COP30 to create a detailed plan, a process Silva said could take a number of years because many nations faced complex issues around reliance on fossil fuels, or wanted to use the proceeds from selling fossil fuels to finance their economic growth.

“Brazil raises the topic, because Brazil is both a producer and user,” the minister said. “But Brazil is different, because Brazil, if it wants to, does not have to depend on fossil fuels. We have to recognise that there are certain nations that rely on carbon energy in their economic systems and lack simple alternatives, and some where oil and gas are the basis of their economy.

“To be just is to be just to all, but the essential, primordial justice is to avoid being unjust to the planet, because it is our home.”

Should the proposal gains sufficient support, the summit could establish a platform in which the work of drawing up a strategy to the transition could begin.

The process would require discussions with all participating countries to the UN framework convention on climate change and guidelines for how the initiative would unfold, Silva explained. “Once we have standards, a governance structure can be drawn up; after we have a plan, and establish protections to be able to establish trust in the process, I am confident that with these components we can transform positive concepts into actions that are clearer, and more concrete.”

It is uncertain that a suggestion to begin drawing up a plan would win approval at the conference, although it does not require the formal approval of the summit, which operates by unanimous agreement and can be disrupted by special interests. Climate experts have suggested they think there could be backing for such a idea from about 60 countries, but there are thought to be at least forty opposed. A total of 195 nations participating at the negotiations.

“Despite being the primary source of global warming, carbon-based energy are about the most divisive topic there is within the international climate talks, so to see a sizable group of countries publicly supporting a route to achieving global phaseout is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

“Put simply, there’s no path to a planet where warming stays below 1.5C in which nations aren’t able to discuss ending fossil fuel use.”

“We need this language for actual in this discussion. It’s quite stupid that we discuss all topics but then when fossil fuels are the actual problem.”

Discussions carried on on the weekend on four unresolved issues that have not yet been included into the formal agenda: commerce, transparency, funding and how to address the shortfall between the carbon reduction nations have planned and those required to hold to the 1.5C temperature target.

The COP30 chair pledged a “document” that would cover these issues, after discussions – which have been going on since the start of the week – were unresolved. The official called on nations to embrace the “mutirão” attitude, meaning one of collaboration and constructive discussion.

Progress on other key topics – such as adjustment to the impacts of the climate emergency, the fair shift for those impacted by the transition to a low-carbon economy and how to build institutional capacity in developing countries – carried on constructively, the presidency said.

Brazil’s lead representative stated the technical part of the COP proceedings was approaching completion, and the high-level stage – when government leaders who have the power to change their countries’ stances join – was starting.