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Brazil’s climate chief, Marina Silva, has called on all nations to demonstrate the courage needed to confront the necessity of a worldwide transition away from fossil fuels, labeling the creation of a roadmap as an “moral” response to the climate crisis.

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

The topic remains one of the most contentious matters at the UN climate summit in the host country, with nations split over whether and in what way such a roadmap can be discussed. As the host, the nation has maintained a balanced position on which items can be placed on the formal agenda.

Silva voiced approval for the potential of a roadmap, without explicitly pledging Brazil to it. The minister remarked: “When we have a terrain that is quite grim, it is good that we have a map. But the map does not compel us to travel, or to climb.”

In an interview, she noted: “The roadmap is an answer to our scientific understanding [of the climate emergency]. It is an ethical response.”

Scores of nations gathered in the host city 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. These nations aim to build on a landmark resolution reached two years ago at COP28 to “transition away from fossil fuels.”

That commitment had no a schedule or details on how it could be realized, and even though it was passed unanimously, several countries have since attempted to back away from the pledge. Efforts last year to elaborate on its real-world meaning were stymied 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, Brazil has been wary of demands by some nations to include the transition on the schedule for the current summit. But Silva has worked hard behind the scenes to ensure the topic could be talked about at the summit outside the formal program.

The minister convinced the nation's president, and he gave public reference repeatedly 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 know at a certain time had to be raised, because it is the sole way to face the issue from the root,” Marina Silva said. “We recognise that it is challenging, and we cannot offer false hopes. Raising the subject is brave, and I hope [to see] this courage from everyone, from producing nations and consumers.”

The nation had not started the call for a phaseout, she said, because that had been done at COP28. Instead, it was allowing the talks to occur in line with what some countries wished. “We understand these topics are delicate. We will provide the opportunity to talk about it,” she added.

There is not enough time at COP30 to create a detailed plan, a task the minister called could take several years because numerous nations faced complex challenges around dependence on carbon-based energy, or wanted to use the revenue from exporting oil and gas to fund their development.

“Brazil raises the subject, because it is simultaneously a producer and user,” she noted. “But the nation is unique, because it, if it wants to, need not depend on fossil fuels. We have to recognise that there are certain nations that depend on fossil fuels in their economies and lack simple solutions, and some where oil and gas are the foundation of their economy.

“To be fair is to be fair to all, but the fundamental, primordial fairness is not being unfair to the Earth, because it is our shared home.”

If the pledge gains enough backing, COP30 could set up a platform in which the work of creating a roadmap to the transition could start.

The endeavor would involve discussions with every signatory countries to the UN climate treaty and criteria for how the process would unfold, the minister explained. “After we have criteria, a management framework can be developed; once we have a strategy, and create safeguards to be able to build trust in the system, I believe that with these elements we can transform positive concepts into actions that are clearer, and more tangible.”

It is uncertain that a proposal to start developing a roadmap would win approval at the conference, although it does not require the official approval of the summit, which proceeds by unanimous agreement and can be disrupted by particular groups. COP analysts have suggested they believe there could be support for such a idea from about 60 countries, but there are thought to be at least forty opposed. There are one hundred ninety-five nations represented at the talks.

“Despite being the primary source of global warming, carbon-based energy are about the most divisive topic there is within the UN negotiations, so to see a chunky coalition of countries publicly supporting a route to realizing global 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 aren’t able to discuss ending fossil fuel use.”

“We need this wording for real in this conversation. It’s highly illogical that we talk about everything but then when fossil fuels are the real problem.”

Negotiations carried on on the weekend on four unresolved topics that have not yet been incorporated into the formal agenda: commerce, openness, finance and how to tackle the gap between the carbon reduction countries have proposed and those needed to hold to the 1.5-degree warming limit.

The summit president pledged a “document” that would cover these matters, after consultations – which have been going on since Monday – were inconclusive. He urged countries to adopt the “mutirão” spirit, meaning one of cooperation and constructive dialogue.

Progress on other substantive issues – including adaptation to the effects of the climate emergency, the fair shift for those impacted by the transition to a low-carbon economy and how to strengthen institutional capacity in less developed nations – proceeded constructively, the presidency said.

Brazil’s chief negotiator stated the technical phase of the summit proceedings was nearing completion, and the political phase – when government leaders who have the power to change their countries’ positions join – was beginning.