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Brazil’s climate chief, Marina Silva, has urged all nations to show the bravery needed to address the imperative of a worldwide transition away from fossil fuels, labeling the creation of a roadmap as an “moral” response to the global warming emergency.

She stressed, though, that participation in this endeavor would be voluntary and “self-determined” for willing nations.

The topic remains one of the most contentious subjects at the COP30 in the host country, with countries divided over if and how such a strategy can be addressed. As the host, Brazil has adopted a balanced stance on which items can be included on the formal schedule.

Silva expressed approval for the possibility of a roadmap, though not directly pledging the country to it. She stated: “In times we have a terrain that is quite grim, it is helpful that we have a guide. But the guide does not compel us to proceed, or to climb.”

Speaking further, the minister added: “The map is an answer to our scientific understanding [of the climate emergency]. It is an moral answer.”

Scores of nations meeting in Belém for the global climate conference, which is starting its next phase, are aiming to determine how a worldwide phaseout of oil, gas, and coal could work. These nations hope to advance a historic agreement reached two years ago at COP28 to “move away from fossil fuels.”

That commitment lacked a schedule or details on the way it could be achieved, and even though it was passed unanimously, some nations have later attempted to back away from the pledge. Efforts last year to expand on its practical meaning were stymied by opposition from oil-dependent nations at COP29.

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

Because of this, the host has been cautious of calls by certain nations to place the transition on the schedule for the current summit. But Silva has strived behind the scenes to make sure the topic could be discussed at the conference outside the official program.

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

“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,” the minister explained. “We recognise that it is challenging, and we cannot offer false hopes. Bringing up the subject is brave, and I hope [to see] this courage from everyone, from producers and using countries.”

The nation had not initiated the push for a phaseout, the minister clarified, because that had been initiated at the earlier summit. Instead, it was enabling the talks to take place in line with what some countries desired. “We understand these topics are delicate. We will give the chance to talk about it,” she added.

There is not enough time at COP30 to draw up a roadmap, a task the minister called could take several years because many nations faced complex issues around dependence on carbon-based energy, or aimed to use the revenue from selling oil and gas to fund their economic growth.

“The country raises the subject, because it is both a producer and consumer,” the minister said. “But Brazil is unique, because it, if it wants to, need not depend on non-renewables. We have to understand that there are some that depend on fossil fuels in their economic systems and don’t have simple alternatives, and some where fossil fuels are the foundation of their economic structure.

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

If the pledge receives sufficient backing, the summit could establish a platform in which the process of drawing up a strategy to the phaseout could begin.

The process would involve dialogue with every signatory nations to the UN climate treaty and guidelines for how the initiative would proceed, Silva said. “Once we have standards, a management framework can be drawn up; after we have a strategy, and create safeguards to be able to build trust in the process, I am confident that with these elements we can transform good ideas into actions that are clearer, and more tangible.”

There is no guarantee that a suggestion to start drawing up a roadmap would be accepted at COP30, although it may not need the formal consent of the conference, which proceeds by consensus and can be hijacked by particular groups. Climate experts have indicated they think there could be support for such a idea from about sixty nations, but there are thought to be at least forty against. A total of 195 countries represented at the negotiations.

“Despite being the root cause of global warming, fossil fuels are about the most divisive subject there is within the international climate talks, so to see a chunky coalition of countries publicly backing a route to achieving global transition is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

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

“We need this language for real in this discussion. It’s highly illogical that we discuss all topics but then when fossil fuels are the real challenge.”

Discussions carried on on Saturday on several unresolved topics that have still not been included into the formal schedule: trade, openness, finance and how to tackle the shortfall between the carbon reduction nations have planned and those needed to hold to the 1.5-degree warming target.

A COP30 president promised a “document” that would cover these matters, after discussions – which have been going on since Monday – were unresolved. The official urged countries to embrace the “mutirão” attitude, meaning one of collaboration and positive discussion.

Progress on additional substantive topics – such as 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 governance capabilities in less developed nations – 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 high-level stage – when ministers who have the authority to alter their countries’ positions join – was starting.