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The climate chief, Marina Silva, has called on all nations to demonstrate the courage needed to address the imperative of a global transition away from fossil fuels, labeling the development of a roadmap as an “moral” response to the global warming emergency.

The minister emphasized, however, that participation in this endeavor would be voluntary and “self-determined” for willing governments.

The topic stands as one of the most contentious subjects at the UN climate summit in Brazil, with nations split over whether and in what way such a roadmap can be discussed. Hosting the event, Brazil has maintained a carefully neutral position on what can be included on the formal agenda.

The official voiced support for the potential of a roadmap, though not explicitly committing Brazil to it. She remarked: “When we have a situation that is very challenging, it is good that we have a guide. But the map does not force us to travel, or to advance.”

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

Scores of countries meeting in Belém for the UN climate summit, which is starting its next phase, are aiming to determine how a global phaseout of fossil fuels could work. They hope to build on a historic resolution made two years ago at COP28 to “move away from non-renewable energy sources.”

The pledge had no a schedule or details on the way it could be achieved, and although it was adopted by all, some countries have since tried to disavow the promise. Attempts last year to expand on its real-world implications were blocked by opposition from oil-dependent nations at another UN summit.

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

For these reasons, the host has been cautious of demands by some countries to include the transition on the agenda for COP30. But Silva has strived behind the scenes to ensure the topic could be discussed at the conference apart from the formal program.

The minister convinced Brazil’s leader, and he gave public reference three times to the need to “move away from reliance on fossil fuels” at the summit of world leaders that preceded COP30, and at the opening of the summit.

“The issue is something that we understand at some point had to be raised, because it is the sole way to face the issue from the source,” the minister explained. “We recognise that it is not easy, and we must not offer false hopes. Bringing up the topic is brave, and I hope [to see] this bravery from all, from producing nations and using countries.”

Brazil had not started the call for a transition, she clarified, because that had been initiated at the earlier summit. Instead, it was enabling the talks to take place in line with what certain nations wished. “We understand these topics are delicate. We will provide the chance to discuss it,” she said.

Time is insufficient at COP30 to draw up a roadmap, a process Silva said could take a number of years because many nations confronted complicated issues around reliance on fossil fuels, or aimed to use the proceeds from exporting oil and gas to fund their development.

“The country raises the topic, because Brazil is both a producing nation and user,” the minister noted. “But the nation is different, because Brazil, if it chooses to, does not have to depend on fossil fuels. We have to understand that there are certain nations that depend on fossil fuels in their economic systems and don’t have easy alternatives, and others where fossil fuels are the basis of their economic structure.

“To be just 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.”

Should the pledge gains sufficient backing, COP30 could set up a forum in which the work of drawing up a strategy to the phaseout could start.

The endeavor would require discussions with every participating nations to the UN climate treaty and guidelines for how the initiative would unfold, the minister said. “After we have criteria, a management framework can be drawn up; once we have a strategy, and create safeguards to be able to establish trust in the process, I believe that with these components we can turn good ideas into steps that are clearer, and more concrete.”

There is no guarantee that a proposal to start developing a roadmap would win approval at the conference, even if it does not require the official consent of the summit, which proceeds by consensus and can be disrupted by special interests. COP analysts have suggested they think there could be support for such a idea from about sixty nations, but there are believed to be at least forty opposed. There are one hundred ninety-five countries participating at the negotiations.

“Despite being the primary source of climate change, carbon-based energy are about the most divisive topic there is within the UN negotiations, so to see a chunky coalition of countries publicly supporting a path to achieving global phaseout is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

“In simple terms, there’s no path to a world where temperature rise remains below 1.5 degrees in which countries cannot to discuss fossil fuel phaseout.”

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

Discussions carried on on the weekend on four outstanding topics that have still not been incorporated into the official schedule: commerce, transparency, funding and how to address the gap between the carbon reduction nations have proposed and those needed to keep to the 1.5-degree warming limit.

A summit chair promised a “document” that would cover these issues, after consultations – which have been going on since Monday – were unresolved. The official called on countries to adopt the “mutirão” attitude, meaning one of cooperation and constructive dialogue.

Work on additional key issues – such as adjustment to the effects of the climate crisis, the fair shift for those affected by the transition to a green economic system and how to strengthen governance capabilities in developing countries – carried on productively, the presidency reported.

Brazil’s chief negotiator stated the detailed part of the COP process was nearing the end, and the political stage – when government leaders who have the authority to change their nations' positions arrive – was starting.