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Brazil’s climate chief, Marina Silva, has urged every country to show the bravery needed to address the necessity of a global transition away from fossil fuels, labeling the development of a roadmap as an “ethical” answer to the global warming emergency.

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

The topic remains one of the most debated subjects at the UN climate summit in Brazil, with nations divided over if and in what way such a roadmap can be addressed. Hosting the event, the nation has maintained a balanced position on which items can be included on the formal schedule.

Silva voiced approval for the potential of a plan, without explicitly committing Brazil to it. The minister remarked: “In times we have a situation that is quite grim, it is helpful that we have a map. But the map does not compel us to travel, or to advance.”

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

Dozens of countries gathered in the host city for the UN climate summit, which is starting its second week, are seeking to determine how a worldwide transition of fossil fuels could work. They hope to advance a landmark resolution reached two years ago at COP28 to “move away from fossil fuels.”

The pledge had no a timetable or specifics on how it could be achieved, and even though it was adopted by all, some countries have since tried to back away from the promise. Attempts last year to elaborate on its practical implications were blocked by resistance from petrostates at COP29.

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

Because of this, Brazil has been wary of demands by certain nations to include the transition on the schedule for COP30. But the minister has worked hard behind the scenes to make sure the pledge could be discussed at the conference apart from the formal program.

She convinced the nation's president, who gave mention repeatedly to the need to “move away from dependence on fossil fuels” at the global leaders' meeting that preceded COP30, and at the start of the summit.

“This is a matter that we know at a certain time had to be put forward, because it is the sole way to address the problem from the source,” Marina Silva said. “We acknowledge that it is not easy, and we cannot offer unrealistic expectations. Bringing up the subject is brave, and I hope [to see] this bravery from all, from producing nations and consumers.”

Brazil had not initiated the call for a phaseout, she clarified, because that had been done at COP28. Rather, it was enabling the talks to occur in line with what some countries desired. “We know these subjects are sensitive. We will provide the chance to talk about it,” she said.

There is not enough time at the summit to draw up a roadmap, a process Silva said could take a number of years because many nations confronted complex issues around reliance on fossil fuels, or aimed to use the revenue from selling fossil fuels to fund their economic growth.

“The country raises the subject, because Brazil is simultaneously a producing nation and user,” the minister noted. “But Brazil is different, because Brazil, if it chooses to, does not have to depend on fossil fuels. We have to recognise that there are certain nations that rely on fossil fuels in their economic systems and lack easy alternatives, and others where fossil fuels are the basis of their economic structure.

“To be just is to be just to everyone, but the essential, primordial justice is not being unfair to the planet, because it is our shared home.”

If the pledge receives enough backing, COP30 could set up a platform in which the process of drawing up a roadmap to the phaseout could start.

This endeavor would require dialogue with every signatory nations to the UN climate treaty and guidelines for how the process would unfold, the minister explained. “After we have criteria, a governance structure can be developed; after we have a plan, and establish protections to be able to build trust in the system, I believe that with these components we can turn good ideas into steps that are clearer, and more tangible.”

It is uncertain that a suggestion to begin developing a roadmap would be accepted at the conference, although it may not need the official approval of the conference, which operates by consensus and can be disrupted by special interests. Climate analysts have suggested they think there could be support for such a idea from about 60 countries, but there are thought to be at least forty against. A total of 195 nations participating at the talks.

“Despite being the primary source of global warming, carbon-based energy are about the most contentious topic there is within the international climate talks, so to see a sizable coalition of nations publicly supporting a route to realizing worldwide transition is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

“In simple terms, there’s no path to a world where temperature rise stays below 1.5 degrees in which countries aren’t able to talk about fossil fuel phaseout.”

“We need this wording for actual in this discussion. It’s highly illogical that we talk about everything but then when the main issue are the real challenge.”

Discussions carried on on the weekend on several outstanding topics that have not yet been incorporated into the formal schedule: commerce, openness, funding and how to tackle the shortfall between the carbon reduction nations have planned and those needed to keep to the 1.5C warming limit.

The COP30 president promised a “document” that would address these issues, after discussions – which have been going on since the start of the week – were unresolved. The official urged countries to adopt the “mutirão” spirit, referring to one of cooperation and constructive dialogue.

Work on other key issues – including adjustment to the effects of the climate crisis, the fair shift for those affected by the move to a low-carbon economy and how to build institutional capacity in developing countries – proceeded constructively, the host said.

The host nation's chief negotiator said the technical part of the COP process was approaching the end, and the political phase – when government leaders who have the power to change their nations' stances join – was starting.