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Brazil’s environment minister, Marina Silva, has called on all nations to show the bravery needed to confront the necessity of a global transition away from fossil fuels, labeling the development of a detailed plan as an “ethical” answer to the climate crisis.

She stressed, though, that involvement in this endeavor would be optional and “self-determined” for interested governments.

The topic remains one of the most debated subjects at the COP30 in the host country, with nations split over if and in what way such a strategy can be discussed. As the host, Brazil has maintained a balanced position on which items can be included on the formal schedule.

The official expressed support for the potential of a roadmap, though not directly committing Brazil to it. She remarked: “When we have a situation that is quite grim, it is good that we have a map. But the guide does not force us to travel, or to climb.”

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

Dozens of countries gathered in the host city for the global climate conference, which is entering its second week, are seeking to establish how a worldwide transition of fossil fuels could be implemented. They hope to build on a historic resolution reached two years ago at a previous UN summit to “transition away from non-renewable energy sources.”

The commitment lacked a schedule or details on how it could be realized, and even though it was adopted unanimously, some countries have since tried to back away from the pledge. Attempts 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 mention of the transition away from fossil fuels in the outcome of that conference.

For these reasons, the host has been cautious of demands by some nations to include the transition on the schedule for the current summit. But Silva has worked hard in private to ensure the pledge could be discussed at the summit apart from the official agenda.

She convinced the nation's leader, who made public reference repeatedly to the need to “shift from reliance on fossil fuels” at the global leaders' meeting that came before the conference, and at the start of the event.

“The issue is a matter that we understand at a certain time had to be raised, because it is the only way to address the issue from the root,” the minister explained. “We recognise that it is challenging, and we cannot sell unrealistic expectations. Bringing up the topic is brave, and I hope [to see] this courage from everyone, from producers and consumers.”

Brazil had not started the call for a phaseout, she clarified, because that had been initiated at COP28. Instead, it was allowing the discussions to occur in accordance with what certain nations wished. “We understand these subjects are delicate. We will provide the opportunity to talk about it,” the minister said.

Time is insufficient at the summit to create a roadmap, a process the minister said could take a number of years because many nations faced complicated challenges around reliance on fossil fuels, or aimed to use the proceeds from exporting fossil fuels to fund their economic growth.

“The country raises the subject, because it is simultaneously a producer and user,” the minister noted. “But Brazil is different, because it, if it chooses to, does not have to rely on fossil fuels. We have to recognise that there are some that rely on fossil fuels in their economies and don’t have simple solutions, and some where oil and gas are the basis of their economy.

“To be just is to be fair to everyone, but the essential, basic fairness is to avoid being unfair to the planet, because it is our shared home.”

Should the pledge receives enough backing, COP30 could set up a forum in which the process of drawing up a strategy to the transition could begin.

This process would require dialogue with all signatory nations to the UN climate treaty and guidelines for how the process would proceed, Silva explained. “After we have criteria, a management framework can be drawn up; after we have a strategy, and create protections to be able to establish confidence in the system, I am confident that with these components we can turn good ideas into actions that are more defined, and more concrete.”

It is uncertain that a suggestion to begin developing a plan would win approval at COP30, even if it does not require the official consent of the summit, which proceeds by consensus and can be hijacked by special interests. Climate experts have suggested they believe there could be support for such a idea from about 60 nations, but there are thought to be at least forty opposed. A total of one hundred ninety-five countries participating at the negotiations.

“Despite being the root cause of global warming, carbon-based energy are about the most contentious subject there is within the UN negotiations, so to see a chunky group of countries publicly backing a path to realizing worldwide transition is in itself highly significant.”

“Put simply, there’s no path to a world where temperature rise stays below 1.5C in which nations cannot to talk about fossil fuel phaseout.”

“We require this language for actual in this discussion. It’s highly illogical that we talk about everything but that when the main issue are the real problem.”

Negotiations continued on the weekend on four unresolved topics that have not yet been incorporated into the official schedule: commerce, transparency, finance and how to address the gap between the carbon reduction nations have proposed and those required to hold to the 1.5C warming limit.

The summit chair pledged a “document” that would address these issues, after discussions – which have been going on since the start of the week – were unresolved. The official called on nations to adopt the “mutirão” spirit, meaning one of collaboration and constructive discussion.

Work on additional key topics – including adaptation to the impacts of the climate crisis, the just transition for those impacted by the move to a low-carbon economy and how to strengthen institutional capacity in less developed nations – carried on productively, the presidency reported.

Brazil’s chief negotiator said the technical phase of the COP process was approaching completion, and the high-level stage – when government leaders who have the authority to alter their countries’ positions join – was beginning.