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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 transition away from fossil fuels, describing the development of a detailed plan as an “ethical” answer to the global warming emergency.

The minister stressed, however, that involvement in this endeavor would be optional and “self-determined” for willing governments.

The topic remains one of the most debated matters at the UN climate summit in the host country, with nations divided over whether and in what way such a roadmap can be addressed. As the host, the nation has maintained a carefully neutral stance on what can be included on the formal schedule.

Silva expressed approval for the potential of a plan, though not directly pledging the country to it. The minister stated: “In times we have a situation that is quite grim, it is helpful that we have a guide. But the guide does not compel us to travel, or to climb.”

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

Dozens of nations gathered in the host city for the global climate conference, which is starting its second week, are aiming to determine how a worldwide transition of oil, gas, and coal could work. These nations hope to advance a historic agreement made two years ago at a previous UN summit to “transition away from fossil fuels.”

That commitment lacked a schedule or details on the way it could be achieved, and although it was passed unanimously, several nations have since tried to disavow the promise. Efforts last year to elaborate on its real-world meaning were blocked by opposition from oil-dependent nations at COP29.

Consequently, there was no mention of the shift away from fossil fuels in the final agreement of that conference.

For these reasons, the host has been wary of demands by certain nations to place the phaseout on the schedule for the current summit. But Silva has strived behind the scenes to make sure the pledge could be discussed at the summit outside the official program.

The minister won over Brazil’s leader, who made public reference repeatedly to the need to “move away from dependence on fossil fuels” at the global leaders' meeting that came before the conference, and at the start of the summit.

“The issue is a matter that we understand at some point had to be put forward, because it is the sole way to address the problem from the source,” the minister explained. “We recognise that it is challenging, and we must not sell unrealistic expectations. Bringing up the topic is courageous, and I hope [to see] this courage from all, from producing nations and using countries.”

The nation had not started the call for a transition, she clarified, because that had been done at COP28. Instead, it was allowing the talks to take place in line with what some countries wished. “We know these subjects are delicate. We will give the chance to discuss it,” she added.

Time is insufficient at the summit to create a roadmap, a task Silva said could take several years because many nations confronted complicated issues around dependence on fossil fuels, or aimed to use the revenue from exporting fossil fuels to fund their development.

“Brazil brings up the topic, because Brazil is both a producer and consumer,” she said. “But Brazil is different, because it, if it wants to, does not have to rely on fossil fuels. We have to recognise that there are some that depend on carbon energy in their economies and don’t have simple solutions, and others where oil and gas are the foundation of their economy.

“To be fair is to be just to all, but the essential, primordial fairness is to avoid being unjust to the planet, because it is our home.”

Should the pledge receives enough support, COP30 could establish a platform in which the work of creating a strategy to the transition could start.

The endeavor would involve discussions with every participating countries to the UN framework convention on climate change and criteria for how the process would unfold, Silva explained. “Once we have criteria, a management framework can be developed; after we have a plan, and establish safeguards to be able to establish confidence in the system, I am confident that with these elements we can transform good ideas into actions that are clearer, and more concrete.”

It is uncertain that a suggestion to start developing a roadmap would be accepted at COP30, even if it may not need the official consent of the conference, which proceeds by unanimous agreement and can be disrupted by special interests. Climate experts have suggested they think there could be support for such a proposal from about 60 countries, but there are believed to be at least 40 against. There are one hundred ninety-five nations participating at the talks.

“Despite being the primary source of climate change, carbon-based energy are about the most divisive topic there is within the UN negotiations, so to see a chunky coalition of countries openly supporting a path to realizing global transition is in itself highly significant.”

“Put simply, there’s no path to a world where warming remains below 1.5C in which countries cannot to discuss fossil fuel phaseout.”

“We need this wording for actual in this conversation. It’s quite stupid that we talk about everything but then when fossil fuels are the real challenge.”

Negotiations continued on the weekend on four unresolved topics that have still not been included into the official agenda: commerce, openness, finance and how to address the gap between the carbon reduction nations have planned and those needed to keep to the 1.5-degree warming target.

The COP30 chair pledged a “note” that would cover these issues, after discussions – which have been going on since the start of the week – were unresolved. He urged nations to adopt the “mutirão” spirit, meaning one of cooperation and positive discussion.

Work on other key issues – including adaptation to the effects of the climate crisis, the fair shift for those impacted by the transition to a green economy and how to strengthen institutional capacity in developing countries – proceeded constructively, the presidency said.

The host nation's chief negotiator said the detailed phase of the COP process was nearing completion, and the political stage – when ministers who have the power to alter their nations' positions join – was beginning.