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Brazil’s climate chief, Marina Silva, has urged every country to demonstrate the courage needed to address the imperative of a global fossil fuel phaseout, describing the creation of a roadmap as an “moral” response to the climate crisis.

The minister emphasized, however, that involvement in this process would be voluntary and “self-determined” for interested governments.

This issue stands as one of the most debated subjects at the COP30 in Brazil, with nations split over whether and in what way such a strategy can be discussed. As the host, the nation has maintained a balanced position on what can be placed on the formal agenda.

Silva expressed approval for the possibility of a plan, though not explicitly committing the country to it. She stated: “When we have a terrain that is quite grim, it is good that we have a map. But the map does not force us to travel, or to advance.”

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

Scores of nations gathered in the host city for the UN climate summit, which is starting its second week, are seeking to establish how a worldwide transition of fossil fuels could be implemented. These nations aim to advance a historic resolution made two years ago at a previous UN summit to “move away from non-renewable energy sources.”

The commitment had no a schedule or specifics on the way it could be achieved, and although it was passed unanimously, several countries have later attempted to back away from the promise. Efforts last year to expand on its practical implications were stymied by resistance from petrostates at COP29.

As a result, there was no reference of the transition away from carbon fuels in the outcome of that conference.

Because of this, the host has been cautious of demands by certain nations to place the transition on the agenda for the current summit. But the minister has strived behind the scenes to make sure the pledge could be talked about at the summit outside the official agenda.

The minister won over Brazil’s leader, who made public reference three times to the need to “move away from reliance on traditional energy” at the global leaders' meeting that came before COP30, and at the opening of the summit.

“The issue is something that we understand at some point had to be put forward, because it is the sole way to address the issue from the source,” the minister said. “We acknowledge that it is challenging, and we cannot sell false hopes. Bringing up the topic is courageous, and I hope [to see] this bravery from all, from producing nations and consumers.”

The nation had not started the push for a transition, she clarified, because that had been done at COP28. Rather, it was allowing the talks to take place in line with what some countries desired. “We know these topics are delicate. We will give the opportunity to talk about it,” the minister added.

There is not enough time at COP30 to draw up a roadmap, a process the minister called could take a number of years because numerous nations confronted complex issues around dependence on carbon-based energy, or wanted to use the proceeds from selling fossil fuels to finance their economic growth.

“The country brings up the subject, because Brazil is both a producer and user,” she said. “But Brazil is unique, because it, if it wants to, does not have to depend on fossil fuels. We have to understand that there are some that rely on carbon energy in their economic systems and lack easy alternatives, and some where oil and gas are the foundation of their economic structure.

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

Should the pledge receives sufficient backing, COP30 could establish a platform in which the process of drawing up a roadmap to the transition could begin.

This process would require dialogue with all signatory countries to the UN framework convention on climate change and guidelines for how the process would unfold, Silva explained. “Once we have criteria, a governance structure can be drawn up; once we have a plan, and create safeguards to be able to establish trust in the system, I believe that with these components we can transform good ideas into steps that are clearer, and more tangible.”

It is uncertain that a suggestion to start developing a roadmap would win approval at COP30, even if it may not need the formal consent of the summit, which proceeds by unanimous agreement and can be disrupted by particular groups. COP analysts have indicated they think there could be support for such a idea from about sixty nations, but there are thought to be at least forty opposed. A total of 195 nations participating at the negotiations.

“Despite being the root cause of climate change, carbon-based energy are about the most contentious subject there is within the international climate talks, so to see a chunky coalition of nations openly supporting a route to achieving global phaseout is in itself highly significant.”

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

“We require this language for real in this conversation. It’s quite stupid that we talk about everything but then when fossil fuels are the actual problem.”

Negotiations carried on on the weekend on several outstanding issues that have not yet been included into the official agenda: trade, openness, funding and how to address the shortfall between the carbon reduction countries have proposed and those required to hold to the 1.5C warming limit.

A summit president pledged a “document” that would address these matters, after discussions – which have been underway since the start of the week – were unresolved. The official called on countries to embrace the “mutirão” attitude, referring to one of cooperation and constructive dialogue.

Work on other key topics – including adaptation to the effects of the climate emergency, the just transition for those affected by the transition to a low-carbon economy and how to build governance capabilities in less developed nations – proceeded productively, the presidency reported.

The host nation's chief negotiator stated the technical phase of the COP proceedings was approaching completion, and the high-level stage – when government leaders who have the power to change their countries’ stances arrive – was beginning.