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The environment minister, the minister, has urged every country to demonstrate the courage needed to confront the necessity of a global fossil fuel phaseout, labeling the creation of a roadmap as an “moral” answer to the global warming emergency.

The minister emphasized, however, that participation in this process would be optional and “independently decided” for willing governments.

This issue remains one of the most debated matters at the COP30 in Brazil, with countries split over whether and how such a roadmap can be addressed. As the host, Brazil has adopted a carefully neutral position on which items can be placed on the official agenda.

Silva voiced approval for the potential of a plan, though not explicitly committing the country to it. The minister remarked: “When we have a situation that is very challenging, it is good that we have a guide. But the map does not force us to proceed, or to climb.”

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

Dozens of countries meeting in Belém for the UN climate summit, which is starting its next phase, are aiming to determine how a global transition of fossil fuels could be implemented. They aim to advance a landmark agreement made two years ago at a previous UN summit to “move away from non-renewable energy sources.”

The pledge lacked a schedule or specifics on the way it could be achieved, and although it was passed unanimously, several countries have since attempted to disavow the pledge. Efforts last year to expand on its real-world meaning were blocked by resistance from petrostates at another UN summit.

Consequently, there was no mention of the transition away from fossil fuels in the outcome of that conference.

For these reasons, Brazil has been wary of calls by some nations to place the phaseout on the agenda for the current summit. But Silva has worked hard behind the scenes to ensure the pledge could be talked about at the conference outside the official program.

The minister won over Brazil’s leader, who gave public reference three times to the need to “shift from dependence on traditional energy” at the summit of world leaders that preceded COP30, and at the start of the summit.

“This is a matter that we understand at some point had to be raised, because it is the sole way to address the issue from the root,” Marina Silva said. “We recognise that it is challenging, and we cannot offer false hopes. Bringing up the topic is courageous, and I wish [to see] this courage from all, from producing nations and consumers.”

The nation had not started the push for a phaseout, she clarified, because that had been done at the earlier summit. Instead, it was enabling the discussions to take place in accordance with what certain nations wished. “We understand these topics are delicate. We will provide 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 many nations confronted complicated issues around dependence on carbon-based energy, or aimed to use the proceeds from exporting oil and gas to finance their economic growth.

“Brazil raises the topic, because Brazil is simultaneously a producing nation and user,” the minister noted. “But the nation is unique, because it, if it chooses to, does not have to rely on fossil fuels. We have to understand that there are some that rely on carbon energy in their economic systems and lack simple solutions, and some where fossil fuels are the basis of their economy.

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

If the proposal receives sufficient support, COP30 could set up a platform in which the work of drawing up a strategy to the phaseout could begin.

The process would require dialogue with every signatory 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 governance structure can be drawn up; once we have a plan, and create protections to be able to build trust in the system, I am confident that with these elements we can turn good ideas into steps that are clearer, and more concrete.”

It is uncertain that a suggestion to begin developing a roadmap would be accepted at COP30, although it does not require the formal consent of the conference, which proceeds by consensus and can be hijacked by special interests. Climate experts have indicated they think there could be support for such a proposal from about sixty countries, but there are thought to be at least forty against. A total of one hundred ninety-five countries represented at the negotiations.

“In spite of being the root cause of climate change, carbon-based energy are about the most divisive topic there is within the international climate talks, so to see a chunky coalition of countries openly backing a path to realizing worldwide phaseout is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

“Put simply, there’s no path to a world where warming remains below 1.5C in which countries cannot to discuss fossil fuel phaseout.”

“We need this language for real in this discussion. It’s highly illogical that we talk about everything but that when fossil fuels are the actual challenge.”

Negotiations carried on on the weekend on several unresolved topics that have still not been incorporated into the formal agenda: trade, transparency, finance and how to address the gap between the carbon reduction countries have proposed and those needed to keep to the 1.5C warming target.

A summit president pledged a “note” that would cover these matters, after consultations – which have been underway since Monday – were inconclusive. The official urged nations to adopt the “mutirão” attitude, referring to one of collaboration and positive dialogue.

Progress on additional substantive topics – including adaptation to the impacts of the climate crisis, the fair shift for those affected by the transition to a low-carbon economic system and how to strengthen institutional capacity in developing countries – carried on productively, the host said.

Brazil’s lead representative stated the technical phase of the COP proceedings was approaching completion, and the high-level phase – when government leaders who have the power to alter their nations' positions join – was starting.