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The climate chief, the minister, has urged all nations to demonstrate the bravery needed to address the necessity of a global fossil fuel phaseout, labeling the development of a roadmap as an “moral” response to the global warming emergency.

She stressed, though, that involvement in this endeavor would be voluntary and “independently decided” for willing governments.

This issue stands as one of the most contentious matters at the UN climate summit in Brazil, with countries divided over whether and in what way such a roadmap can be discussed. Hosting the event, the nation has adopted a balanced stance on what can be placed on the official schedule.

Silva expressed support for the potential of a roadmap, without explicitly pledging the country to it. She stated: “When we have a situation that is very challenging, it is helpful that we have a map. But the map does not compel us to travel, or to climb.”

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

Dozens of nations gathered in Belém for the UN climate summit, which is starting its second week, are seeking to establish how a global phaseout of oil, gas, and coal could work. They hope to build on a historic agreement made 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 although it was adopted unanimously, several countries have since tried to back away from the promise. Efforts last year to expand on its practical meaning were blocked by resistance from petrostates at another UN summit.

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

Because of this, Brazil has been cautious of demands by some nations to place the transition on the agenda for COP30. But Silva has strived behind the scenes to make sure the topic could be discussed at the summit apart from the formal agenda.

The minister won over the nation's president, who gave public reference three times to the need to “move away from reliance on traditional energy” at the global leaders' meeting that came before COP30, and at the opening of the event.

“The issue is a matter that we know at a certain time had to be put forward, because it is the only way to address the issue from the source,” Marina Silva explained. “We recognise that it is not easy, and we cannot sell unrealistic expectations. Raising the subject is brave, and I wish [to see] this bravery from all, from producers and using countries.”

Brazil had not initiated the call for a phaseout, she clarified, because that had been initiated at the earlier summit. Rather, it was enabling the talks to take place in accordance with what some countries desired. “We understand these subjects are sensitive. We will give the chance to talk about it,” the minister added.

Time is insufficient at the summit to draw up a roadmap, a task Silva called could take several years because many countries faced complex issues around dependence on carbon-based energy, or wanted to use the revenue from selling oil and gas to fund their economic growth.

“Brazil raises the subject, because it is simultaneously a producing nation and consumer,” she noted. “But Brazil is unique, because it, if it wants to, does not have to depend on fossil fuels. We have to understand that there are some that depend on carbon energy in their economic systems and don’t have simple alternatives, and others where fossil fuels are the foundation of their economic structure.

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

Should the proposal receives enough support, COP30 could set up a forum in which the process of creating a strategy to the phaseout could start.

This endeavor would require discussions with every signatory countries to the UN framework convention on climate change and criteria for how the process would proceed, the minister said. “After we have standards, a governance structure can be drawn up; once we have a plan, and establish safeguards to be able to establish confidence in the system, I believe that with these components we can turn good ideas into steps that are clearer, and more concrete.”

It is uncertain that a suggestion to start drawing up a plan would be accepted at COP30, although it may not need the official 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 60 nations, but there are thought to be at least forty opposed. A total of one hundred ninety-five nations participating at the talks.

“In spite of being the primary source of climate change, fossil fuels are about the most divisive topic there is within the international climate talks, so to see a sizable group of nations publicly supporting a path to realizing global phaseout is in itself highly significant.”

“In simple terms, there’s no route to a world where warming remains below 1.5 degrees in which nations aren’t able to talk about ending fossil fuel use.”

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

Negotiations continued on Saturday on several outstanding topics that have still not been included into the formal schedule: commerce, openness, finance and how to tackle the shortfall between the carbon reduction countries have proposed and those needed to hold to the 1.5-degree warming target.

The COP30 president pledged a “note” that would cover these issues, after discussions – which have been going on since Monday – were unresolved. He called on countries to adopt the “mutirão” attitude, referring to one of collaboration and positive dialogue.

Work on additional substantive topics – including adaptation to the impacts of the climate crisis, the fair shift for those affected by the move to a green economy and how to strengthen institutional capacity in developing countries – proceeded constructively, the presidency said.

The host nation's lead representative said the technical part of the summit proceedings was approaching the end, and the high-level phase – when government leaders who have the power to change their countries’ stances arrive – was starting.