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Brazil’s environment minister, Marina Silva, has called on every country to show the bravery needed to address the necessity of a worldwide fossil fuel phaseout, describing the development of a roadmap as an “ethical” answer to the global warming emergency.

She stressed, though, that involvement in this endeavor would be optional and “self-determined” for interested nations.

This issue stands as one of the most debated matters at the COP30 in the host country, with countries divided over if and in what way such a strategy can be discussed. Hosting the event, Brazil has adopted a carefully neutral stance on which items can be placed on the formal schedule.

The official voiced approval for the potential of a plan, without directly pledging Brazil to it. The minister stated: “When we have a situation that is quite grim, it is helpful that we have a guide. But the map does not compel us to travel, or to climb.”

In an interview, she noted: “The map is an answer to our scientific knowledge [of the climate emergency]. It is an moral answer.”

Scores of nations gathered in Belém for the UN climate summit, which is entering its next phase, are seeking to establish how a global phaseout of fossil fuels could be implemented. These nations aim to build on a landmark resolution reached two years ago at COP28 to “move away from fossil fuels.”

The commitment had no a schedule or specifics on the way it could be achieved, and although it was adopted by all, some countries have since attempted to disavow the promise. Efforts last year to elaborate on its practical implications were blocked by opposition from oil-dependent nations at COP29.

Consequently, there was no reference of the shift away from fossil fuels in the outcome of COP29.

Because of this, the host has been cautious of calls by some countries to include the transition on the schedule for COP30. But the minister has worked hard behind the scenes to ensure the topic could be talked about at the summit outside the formal program.

She won over the nation's leader, who made public reference repeatedly to the need to “move away from dependence on traditional energy” at the summit of world leaders that came before COP30, and at the start of the summit.

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

The nation had not initiated the push for a phaseout, she said, because that had been initiated at the earlier summit. Instead, it was enabling the talks to take place in accordance with what some nations desired. “We know these subjects are sensitive. We will provide the chance to discuss it,” she added.

Time is insufficient at the summit to draw up a detailed plan, a task Silva called could take several years because numerous countries confronted complicated challenges around reliance on carbon-based energy, or wanted to use the proceeds from selling fossil fuels to finance their development.

“Brazil brings up the topic, 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 rely on fossil fuels. We have to recognise that there are some that depend on carbon energy in their economies and don’t have easy solutions, and others where fossil fuels are the foundation of their economy.

“To be fair is to be fair to all, but the fundamental, primordial fairness is to avoid being unjust to the Earth, because it is our shared home.”

Should the proposal receives enough support, the summit could establish a forum in which the process of creating a strategy to the transition could begin.

This process would involve discussions with all participating nations to the UN framework convention on climate change and criteria for how the initiative would unfold, Silva said. “Once we have criteria, a management framework can be drawn up; after we have a plan, and create safeguards to be able to build trust in the system, I am confident that with these elements we can transform good ideas into actions that are clearer, and more concrete.”

It is uncertain that a proposal to begin drawing up a plan 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 disrupted by special interests. Climate experts have suggested they believe there could be support for such a idea from about sixty nations, but there are believed to be at least 40 opposed. A total of one hundred ninety-five nations participating at the negotiations.

“In spite of being the root cause of climate change, carbon-based energy are about the most contentious subject there is within the UN negotiations, so to see a chunky group of nations openly backing a route to achieving global transition is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

“In simple terms, there’s no route to a world where temperature rise stays below 1.5C in which countries aren’t able to discuss fossil fuel phaseout.”

“We require this language for real in this discussion. It’s quite stupid that we talk about all topics but then when the main issue are the real challenge.”

Discussions continued on the weekend on several outstanding issues that have still not been included into the official agenda: commerce, openness, funding and how to tackle the shortfall between the carbon reduction countries have proposed and those required to keep to the 1.5C warming target.

The summit chair pledged a “document” that would cover these matters, after consultations – which have been underway since the start of the week – were inconclusive. He urged nations to adopt the “mutirão” spirit, referring to one of collaboration and constructive dialogue.

Work on other substantive topics – including adjustment to the effects of the climate crisis, the fair shift for those impacted by the move to a low-carbon economy and how to build institutional capacity in developing countries – carried on constructively, the host said.

Brazil’s chief negotiator stated the technical part of the summit proceedings was nearing completion, and the political stage – when ministers who have the power to change their nations' stances arrive – was starting.