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Brazil’s environment minister, Marina Silva, has called on every country to show the bravery needed to confront the necessity of a global fossil fuel phaseout, describing the development of a roadmap as an “ethical” response to the global warming emergency.

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

The topic stands as one of the most contentious matters at the COP30 in the host country, with countries split over if and how such a roadmap can be addressed. As the host, Brazil has adopted a carefully neutral position on what can be included on the formal agenda.

The official voiced approval for the possibility of a plan, without explicitly pledging Brazil to it. The minister remarked: “In times we have a terrain that is very challenging, it is good that we have a map. But the guide does not compel us to travel, or to climb.”

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

Scores of nations gathered in Belém for the UN climate summit, which is starting its second week, are seeking to establish how a worldwide phaseout of fossil fuels could be implemented. They hope to advance a historic agreement reached two years ago at COP28 to “transition away from non-renewable energy sources.”

The pledge lacked a schedule or details on the way it could be achieved, and although it was adopted by all, several countries have since attempted to back away from the pledge. Attempts last year to expand on its practical meaning were blocked by resistance from petrostates at COP29.

As a result, there was no mention of the transition away from fossil fuels in the outcome of COP29.

For these reasons, the host has been cautious of demands by some nations to place the transition on the agenda 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 convinced Brazil’s president, who made public reference three times to the need to “move away from dependence on traditional energy” at the summit of world leaders that preceded COP30, and at the start of the summit.

“This is something that we know at a certain time had to be put forward, because it is the sole way to face the problem from the root,” the minister explained. “We acknowledge that it is not easy, and we cannot sell unrealistic expectations. Raising the topic is brave, and I wish [to see] this bravery from all, from producers and consumers.”

Brazil had not started the call for a phaseout, the minister said, because that had been initiated at the earlier summit. Rather, it was allowing the talks to occur in line with what some nations desired. “We understand these subjects are delicate. We will give the chance to discuss it,” she added.

There is not enough time at COP30 to create a roadmap, a process the minister called could take a number of years because numerous nations confronted complicated challenges around reliance on fossil fuels, or aimed to use the revenue from selling oil and gas to fund their development.

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

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

Should the proposal gains sufficient backing, COP30 could establish a platform in which the process of drawing up a roadmap to the phaseout could start.

The process would involve dialogue with all signatory nations to the UN climate treaty and criteria for how the initiative would unfold, the minister said. “Once we have criteria, a management framework can be drawn up; after we have a strategy, and create protections to be able to establish trust in the process, I believe that with these components we can transform good ideas into steps that are more defined, and more tangible.”

It is uncertain that a proposal to start developing a roadmap would be accepted at the conference, even if it may not need the official approval of the conference, which proceeds by consensus and can be hijacked by particular groups. COP analysts have indicated they believe there could be backing for such a proposal from about sixty nations, but there are thought to be at least forty opposed. There are 195 nations participating at the negotiations.

“In spite of being the primary source of climate change, fossil fuels are about the most contentious subject there is within the UN negotiations, so to see a sizable group of nations publicly backing a route to achieving global transition is in itself highly significant.”

“Put simply, there’s no route to a world where temperature rise stays below 1.5 degrees in which countries aren’t able to talk about fossil fuel phaseout.”

“We need this language for actual in this discussion. It’s quite stupid that we talk about everything but then when the main issue are the actual problem.”

Negotiations carried on on the weekend on several outstanding issues that have still not been incorporated into the official schedule: trade, transparency, finance and how to address the gap between the carbon reduction nations have planned and those needed to hold to the 1.5-degree temperature target.

The COP30 president promised a “note” that would address these issues, after discussions – which have been going on since the start of the week – were unresolved. The official urged countries to embrace the “mutirão” spirit, referring to one of cooperation and constructive dialogue.

Work on other key issues – such as adjustment to the impacts of the climate emergency, the fair shift for those impacted by the move to a low-carbon economy and how to strengthen governance capabilities in less developed nations – carried on constructively, the presidency said.

The host nation's chief negotiator said the technical phase of the COP proceedings was nearing the end, and the political stage – when ministers who have the authority to alter their nations' stances arrive – was beginning.