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Brazil’s climate chief, the minister, has called on every country to show the bravery needed to confront the imperative of a global fossil fuel phaseout, labeling the creation of a detailed plan as an “ethical” response to the global warming emergency.

She emphasized, however, that participation in this process would be voluntary and “independently decided” for interested nations.

The topic stands as one of the most debated matters at the COP30 in Brazil, with countries split over if and in what way such a strategy can be addressed. Hosting the event, Brazil has adopted a carefully neutral stance on what can be included on the formal schedule.

Silva expressed approval for the potential of a plan, without explicitly committing Brazil to it. She remarked: “In times we have a situation that is quite grim, it is good that we have a guide. But the guide does not force us to proceed, or to climb.”

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

Dozens of countries meeting in Belém for the UN climate summit, which is starting its next phase, are seeking to determine how a global transition of fossil fuels could be implemented. These nations aim to build on a landmark agreement reached two years ago at a previous UN summit to “move away from non-renewable energy sources.”

The pledge lacked a schedule or details on the way it could be realized, and although it was passed unanimously, some nations have later tried to back away from the pledge. Efforts last year to elaborate on its practical meaning were stymied by resistance from petrostates at another UN summit.

Consequently, there was no reference of the shift away from carbon fuels in the final agreement of COP29.

For these reasons, Brazil has been cautious of demands by certain nations to include the phaseout on the agenda for the current summit. But Silva has worked hard behind the scenes to ensure the pledge could be discussed at the summit outside the official agenda.

The minister won over Brazil’s leader, who made mention three times to the need to “shift from reliance on traditional energy” at the summit of world leaders that preceded the conference, and at the opening of the summit.

“This is something that we know at a certain time had to be put forward, because it is the only way to address the problem from the source,” Marina Silva said. “We recognise that it is not easy, and we must not sell false hopes. Raising the topic is brave, and I hope [to see] this bravery from all, from producing nations and using countries.”

Brazil had not initiated the push for a transition, the minister said, because that had been done at the earlier summit. Rather, it was allowing the discussions to take place in accordance with what certain nations wished. “We understand these subjects are delicate. We will give the opportunity to discuss it,” she said.

Time is insufficient at the summit to create a roadmap, a process the minister said could take several years because numerous nations faced complex issues around dependence on fossil fuels, or aimed to use the revenue from exporting oil and gas to finance their economic growth.

“Brazil brings up the subject, because Brazil is simultaneously a producer and consumer,” the minister noted. “But the nation is unique, because it, if it wants to, need not depend on fossil fuels. We have to understand that there are some that depend on fossil fuels in their economies and lack easy solutions, and others where fossil fuels are the basis of their economy.

“To be fair is to be fair to everyone, but the fundamental, basic justice is to avoid being unfair to the Earth, because it is our home.”

If the proposal receives sufficient support, the summit could establish a platform in which the work of creating a strategy to the transition could begin.

The endeavor would involve discussions with every signatory nations to the UN climate treaty and guidelines for how the initiative would proceed, Silva explained. “Once we have criteria, a governance structure can be drawn up; after we have a plan, and create safeguards to be able to build confidence in the process, I am confident that with these elements we can transform good ideas into actions that are clearer, and more tangible.”

It is uncertain that a proposal to start developing a roadmap would be accepted at COP30, even if it may not need the formal consent of the conference, which proceeds by consensus and can be hijacked by special interests. COP analysts have indicated they believe there could be backing for such a idea from about 60 countries, but there are believed to be at least 40 opposed. A total of 195 countries represented at the negotiations.

“Despite being the root cause of climate change, fossil fuels are about the most contentious topic there is within the UN negotiations, so to see a sizable 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 warming stays below 1.5C in which countries aren’t able to talk about fossil fuel phaseout.”

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

Negotiations carried on on Saturday on four unresolved issues that have not yet been included into the official agenda: trade, openness, funding and how to tackle the shortfall between the carbon reduction nations have proposed and those needed to keep to the 1.5C temperature target.

The summit president pledged a “note” that would cover these issues, after discussions – which have been going on since the start of the week – were unresolved. He called on countries to adopt the “mutirão” spirit, meaning one of cooperation and positive discussion.

Progress on other substantive issues – such as adjustment to the impacts of the climate crisis, the just transition for those impacted by the transition to a green economic system and how to build institutional capacity in less developed nations – proceeded productively, the host reported.

Brazil’s chief negotiator stated the technical phase of the summit proceedings was nearing completion, and the high-level phase – when ministers who have the authority to alter their nations' stances join – was starting.