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Brazil’s environment minister, Marina Silva, has called on every country to show the courage needed to confront the imperative of a global fossil fuel phaseout, labeling the creation of a roadmap as an “moral” answer to the climate crisis.

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

The topic remains one of the most debated subjects at the UN climate summit in Brazil, with nations split over whether and in what way such a roadmap can be addressed. Hosting the event, Brazil has adopted a balanced stance on what can be placed on the official schedule.

Silva voiced approval for the possibility of a plan, without directly committing the country to it. The minister remarked: “When we have a terrain that is quite grim, it is helpful that we have a map. But the guide does not force us to travel, or to climb.”

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

Scores of countries gathered in Belém for the global climate conference, which is entering its second week, are aiming to establish how a worldwide phaseout of oil, gas, and coal could work. They hope to build on a historic agreement made two years ago at COP28 to “transition away from fossil fuels.”

That pledge lacked a schedule or details on how it could be achieved, and even though it was passed by all, several nations have later tried to disavow the promise. Attempts last year to expand on its real-world meaning were blocked by opposition from petrostates at COP29.

As a result, there was no mention of the shift away from carbon fuels in the outcome of COP29.

Because of this, Brazil has been wary of demands by some countries to place the phaseout on the agenda for the current summit. But Silva has worked hard behind the scenes to make sure the topic could be discussed at the conference apart from the formal agenda.

The minister convinced the nation's leader, who gave public reference repeatedly to the need to “move away from dependence on traditional energy” at the global leaders' meeting that came before COP30, and at the start of the summit.

“The issue is a matter that we understand at a certain time had to be put forward, because it is the only way to face the problem from the source,” the minister explained. “We recognise that it is not easy, and we cannot sell unrealistic expectations. Bringing up the subject is courageous, and I hope [to see] this bravery from all, from producers and consumers.”

The nation had not started the push for a phaseout, the minister clarified, because that had been initiated at COP28. Instead, it was allowing the talks to take place in accordance with what certain countries wished. “We know these subjects are sensitive. We will give the chance to talk about it,” she said.

There is not enough time at COP30 to draw up a detailed plan, a task Silva called could take a number of years because numerous nations confronted complicated issues around dependence on fossil fuels, or wanted to use the proceeds from selling oil and gas to fund their economic growth.

“Brazil brings up the subject, because Brazil is both a producing nation and consumer,” she said. “But the nation is different, because it, if it wants to, does not have to depend on non-renewables. We have to recognise that there are certain nations that depend on fossil fuels in their economies and don’t have simple 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 fairness is to avoid being unjust to the Earth, because it is our home.”

Should the pledge gains sufficient support, COP30 could set up a platform in which the work of drawing up a strategy to the transition could begin.

The endeavor would involve discussions with all participating nations to the UN framework convention on climate change and guidelines for how the initiative would proceed, the minister said. “Once we have criteria, a management framework can be drawn up; once we have a strategy, and create protections to be able to build trust in the process, I believe that with these components we can turn good ideas into actions that are clearer, and more tangible.”

There is no guarantee that a proposal to begin drawing up a plan would win approval at the conference, although it may not need the official approval of the summit, which proceeds by consensus and can be hijacked by particular groups. Climate experts have indicated they believe there could be backing for such a idea from about 60 countries, but there are believed to be at least 40 against. A total of 195 countries participating at the negotiations.

“In spite of being the root cause of global warming, carbon-based energy are about the most divisive subject there is within the international climate talks, so to see a sizable group of nations publicly backing a route to realizing global phaseout is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

“Put simply, there’s no path to a planet where warming stays below 1.5C in which nations aren’t able to talk about ending fossil fuel use.”

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

Negotiations carried on on the weekend on several outstanding issues that have still not been included into the formal agenda: commerce, transparency, finance and how to tackle the gap between the carbon reduction nations have proposed and those required to hold to the 1.5-degree warming target.

A summit chair pledged a “note” that would address these issues, after consultations – which have been underway since the start of the week – were unresolved. He called on nations to adopt the “mutirão” attitude, referring to one of cooperation and positive discussion.

Progress on additional key issues – such as adjustment to the impacts of the climate crisis, the just transition for those affected by the transition to a green economic system and how to strengthen institutional capacity in developing countries – carried on productively, the host reported.

The host nation's chief negotiator stated the detailed phase of the summit proceedings was nearing the end, and the political stage – when ministers who have the power to change their nations' positions arrive – was beginning.