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Brazil’s climate chief, the minister, has called on all nations to demonstrate the bravery needed to confront the imperative of a worldwide transition away from fossil fuels, labeling the creation of a roadmap as an “moral” response to the climate crisis.

She emphasized, however, that participation in this endeavor would be optional and “independently decided” for willing governments.

This issue stands as one of the most debated matters at the UN climate summit in Brazil, with countries divided over if and how such a roadmap can be discussed. Hosting the event, Brazil has maintained a carefully neutral stance on which items can be included on the formal schedule.

Silva expressed support for the possibility of a roadmap, though not directly pledging Brazil to it. She remarked: “In times we have a situation that is quite grim, it is helpful that we have a map. But the guide does not force us to proceed, or to advance.”

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

Scores of nations meeting in the host city for the global climate conference, which is entering its next phase, are aiming to establish how a worldwide phaseout of oil, gas, and coal could be implemented. These nations hope to build on a historic agreement reached two years ago at COP28 to “transition away from fossil fuels.”

That commitment lacked a schedule or details on the way it could be realized, and although it was adopted unanimously, some nations have since tried to back away from the pledge. Attempts last year to expand on its practical meaning were blocked by opposition from oil-dependent nations at another UN summit.

As a result, there was no mention 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 phaseout on the schedule for the current summit. But the minister has worked hard in private to make sure the pledge could be talked about at the conference apart from the official program.

The minister won over the nation's leader, who made mention three times to the need to “move away from dependence on fossil fuels” at the summit of world leaders that preceded COP30, and at the start of the event.

“This is a matter that we understand at some point had to be put forward, because it is the sole way to address the issue from the source,” Marina Silva said. “We recognise that it is not easy, and we cannot sell false hopes. Bringing up the topic is brave, and I wish [to see] this courage from everyone, from producers and consumers.”

The nation had not started the call for a phaseout, the minister said, because that had been done at the earlier summit. Rather, it was allowing the discussions to occur in line with what certain nations desired. “We know these subjects are sensitive. We will give the chance to discuss it,” she added.

Time is insufficient at the summit to create a detailed plan, a task the minister called could take several years because numerous nations faced complicated challenges around dependence on fossil fuels, or aimed to use the proceeds from exporting oil and gas to fund their economic growth.

“The country brings up the subject, because it is both a producer and user,” the minister said. “But Brazil is unique, because Brazil, if it wants to, need not rely on fossil fuels. We have to recognise that there are certain nations that rely on fossil fuels in their economic systems and don’t have easy alternatives, and some where fossil fuels are the foundation of their economic structure.

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

Should the proposal receives sufficient support, COP30 could establish a platform in which the work of creating a strategy to the phaseout could begin.

The endeavor would require dialogue with every signatory nations to the UN climate treaty and criteria for how the process would unfold, the minister said. “After we have standards, a governance structure can be developed; once we have a strategy, and create protections to be able to build confidence in the system, I believe that with these elements we can transform positive concepts into steps that are more defined, and more tangible.”

There is no guarantee that a suggestion to start developing a plan would be accepted at COP30, even if it may not need the official consent of the conference, which proceeds by unanimous agreement and can be hijacked by special interests. COP analysts have indicated they believe there could be support for such a idea from about sixty countries, but there are believed to be at least 40 opposed. A total of one hundred ninety-five nations participating at the negotiations.

“Despite being the root cause of global warming, fossil fuels are about the most divisive subject there is within the international climate talks, so to see a sizable group of countries openly supporting a route to achieving worldwide phaseout is in itself highly significant.”

“Put simply, there’s no path to a world where temperature rise remains below 1.5C in which countries aren’t able to discuss ending fossil fuel use.”

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

Discussions carried on on the weekend on several outstanding topics that have not yet been included into the official agenda: trade, transparency, funding and how to tackle the shortfall between the emissions cuts nations have proposed and those needed to hold to the 1.5-degree temperature limit.

A COP30 chair pledged a “document” that would cover these matters, after discussions – which have been underway since Monday – were inconclusive. The official called on nations to embrace the “mutirão” spirit, referring to one of cooperation and positive discussion.

Progress on additional key topics – including adjustment to the impacts of the climate crisis, the just transition for those impacted by the move to a green economic system and how to strengthen institutional capacity in less developed nations – carried on productively, the host said.

The host nation's chief negotiator said the technical phase of the COP process was approaching the end, and the political stage – when ministers who have the authority to alter their countries’ positions arrive – was starting.