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Brazil’s environment minister, Marina Silva, has urged every country to show the bravery needed to address the imperative of a global transition away from fossil fuels, describing the creation of a roadmap as an “ethical” response to the climate crisis.

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

The topic stands as one of the most debated subjects at the COP30 in the host country, with countries split over if and how such a strategy can be discussed. As the host, the nation has adopted a carefully neutral stance on what can be placed on the formal schedule.

The official voiced support for the possibility of a roadmap, without explicitly committing Brazil to it. She stated: “In times we have a terrain that is quite grim, it is helpful that we have a guide. But the map does not force us to proceed, or to advance.”

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

Dozens of countries gathered in Belém for the UN climate summit, which is starting its next phase, are seeking to establish how a worldwide transition of oil, gas, and coal could work. They hope to advance a historic agreement reached two years ago at COP28 to “move away from non-renewable energy sources.”

That commitment lacked a schedule or details on the way it could be achieved, and although it was adopted by all, several nations have later attempted to back away from the promise. Attempts last year to expand on its real-world meaning were stymied by opposition from petrostates at another UN summit.

As a result, there was no mention of the transition away from fossil fuels in the final agreement of that conference.

For these reasons, the host has been wary of calls by some nations to include the transition on the schedule for the current summit. But the minister has strived in private to make sure the topic could be discussed at the conference apart from the formal agenda.

She won over Brazil’s leader, who gave mention three times to the need to “move away from dependence on fossil fuels” at the global leaders' meeting that came before the conference, and at the opening of the summit.

“This is a matter that we understand at a certain time had to be raised, because it is the sole way to address the issue from the source,” the minister explained. “We acknowledge that it is challenging, and we cannot sell false hopes. Raising the topic is brave, and I wish [to see] this bravery from all, from producing nations and consumers.”

The nation had not started the call for a transition, the minister said, because that had been done at COP28. Rather, it was allowing the talks to occur in accordance with what some countries desired. “We understand these subjects are sensitive. We will provide the opportunity to talk about it,” the minister said.

Time is insufficient at COP30 to create a roadmap, a task Silva called could take several years because many countries confronted complicated challenges around reliance on fossil fuels, or wanted to use the proceeds from exporting fossil fuels to finance their development.

“The country brings up the subject, because it is simultaneously a producing nation and user,” the minister said. “But Brazil is unique, because it, if it chooses to, need not depend on non-renewables. We have to understand that there are certain nations that rely on carbon energy in their economies and lack easy alternatives, and some where fossil fuels are the foundation of their economic structure.

“To be fair is to be fair to all, but the essential, primordial fairness is not being unjust to the planet, because it is our shared home.”

If the proposal receives enough support, COP30 could establish a forum in which the process of creating a strategy to the transition could begin.

The endeavor would involve dialogue with every participating nations to the UN climate treaty and guidelines for how the process would proceed, the minister explained. “Once we have standards, a governance structure can be developed; after we have a plan, and create safeguards to be able to build trust in the system, I believe that with these elements we can turn positive concepts into actions that are clearer, and more concrete.”

There is no guarantee that a proposal to begin drawing up a roadmap would be accepted at COP30, although it does not require the formal approval of the summit, which proceeds by consensus and can be disrupted by particular groups. COP experts have suggested they think there could be support for such a proposal from about 60 nations, but there are thought to be at least forty opposed. A total of 195 countries participating at the negotiations.

“In spite of being the primary source of global warming, fossil fuels are about the most contentious subject there is within the international climate talks, so to see a chunky coalition of nations openly supporting a route to realizing global phaseout is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

“In simple terms, there’s no route to a planet where temperature rise remains below 1.5 degrees in which nations aren’t able to discuss ending fossil fuel use.”

“We require this language for actual in this conversation. It’s highly illogical that we talk about everything but then when the main issue are the actual problem.”

Discussions carried on on the weekend on several unresolved topics that have not yet been included into the official agenda: commerce, transparency, funding and how to tackle the shortfall between the emissions cuts countries have planned and those needed to hold to the 1.5C warming target.

The COP30 president promised a “note” that would cover these issues, after consultations – which have been going on since Monday – were inconclusive. The official called on countries to adopt the “mutirão” attitude, meaning one of cooperation and constructive dialogue.

Progress on other substantive issues – such as adaptation to the effects of the climate emergency, the just transition for those affected by the move to a green economic system and how to strengthen governance capabilities in developing countries – proceeded constructively, the host said.

Brazil’s lead representative stated the detailed phase of the summit proceedings was approaching completion, and the political stage – when ministers who have the power to alter their nations' stances arrive – was starting.