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Brazil’s environment minister, Marina Silva, has urged all nations to show the bravery needed to confront the necessity of a worldwide transition away from fossil fuels, labeling the creation of a roadmap as an “moral” answer to the global warming emergency.

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

This issue stands as one of the most debated matters at the UN climate summit in Brazil, with countries split over whether and in what way such a roadmap can be addressed. As the host, the nation has adopted a balanced position on which items can be placed on the formal schedule.

Silva voiced approval for the possibility of a roadmap, without directly pledging the country to it. The minister remarked: “When we have a situation that is very challenging, it is helpful that we have a map. But the map does not compel us to travel, or to climb.”

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

Dozens of countries gathered in Belém for the global climate conference, which is entering its second week, are seeking to establish how a worldwide phaseout of fossil fuels could work. They hope to advance a historic agreement made two years ago at a previous UN summit to “transition away from fossil fuels.”

The commitment lacked a schedule or details on how it could be realized, and although it was adopted unanimously, some countries have later attempted to disavow the promise. Efforts last year to elaborate on its real-world meaning were blocked by opposition from oil-dependent nations at another UN summit.

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

Because of this, Brazil has been cautious of demands by certain countries to place the transition on the schedule for COP30. But Silva has worked hard in private to ensure the topic could be talked about at the summit outside the official agenda.

She convinced Brazil’s leader, who made public reference repeatedly to the need to “move away from dependence on traditional energy” at the global leaders' meeting that preceded the conference, and at the opening of the event.

“This is something that we know at a certain time had to be put forward, because it is the sole way to face the problem from the source,” the minister explained. “We recognise that it is challenging, and we must not offer false hopes. Bringing up the topic is brave, and I wish [to see] this courage from everyone, from producers and using countries.”

Brazil had not started the call for a phaseout, the minister clarified, because that had been done at the earlier summit. Instead, it was enabling the talks to occur in line with what some countries wished. “We understand these topics are sensitive. We will provide the opportunity to talk about it,” she said.

There is not enough time at the summit to draw up a detailed plan, a task the minister said could take several years because many nations faced complex challenges around dependence on carbon-based energy, or wanted to use the proceeds from exporting fossil fuels to fund their development.

“The country raises the subject, because Brazil is simultaneously a producing nation and consumer,” she said. “But Brazil is unique, because it, if it wants to, does not have to rely on fossil fuels. We have to understand that there are certain nations that depend on fossil fuels in their economies and lack simple alternatives, and others where oil and gas are the basis of their economy.

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

If the proposal receives sufficient backing, COP30 could set up a forum in which the work of creating a strategy to the phaseout could start.

The endeavor would involve discussions with every signatory countries to the UN framework convention on climate change and criteria for how the process would proceed, Silva said. “Once we have standards, a governance structure can be drawn up; once we have a plan, and establish protections to be able to establish confidence in the system, I believe that with these elements we can transform positive concepts into actions that are clearer, and more tangible.”

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 unanimous agreement and can be disrupted by special interests. COP experts have suggested they think there could be support for such a proposal from about sixty countries, but there are thought to be at least 40 against. There are 195 nations participating at the talks.

“In spite of being the root cause of climate change, fossil fuels are about the most contentious subject there is within the international climate talks, so to see a sizable group of countries publicly supporting a path to achieving worldwide transition is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

“Put simply, there’s no route to a world where temperature rise remains below 1.5C in which countries cannot to talk about ending fossil fuel use.”

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

Discussions continued on the weekend on four outstanding topics that have not yet been incorporated into the formal schedule: trade, transparency, finance and how to tackle the shortfall between the carbon reduction countries have planned and those needed to keep to the 1.5-degree warming target.

A COP30 chair pledged a “note” that would address these issues, after consultations – which have been underway since Monday – were inconclusive. The official urged countries to adopt the “mutirão” attitude, meaning one of collaboration and constructive dialogue.

Work on additional substantive topics – such as adaptation to the impacts of the climate crisis, the fair shift for those affected by the move to a green economic system and how to build institutional capacity in developing countries – proceeded productively, the host said.

The host nation's chief negotiator stated the detailed phase of the COP proceedings was nearing completion, and the high-level phase – when ministers who have the power to alter their countries’ positions join – was beginning.