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The environment minister, Marina Silva, has called on all nations to show the bravery needed to confront the necessity of a global fossil fuel phaseout, labeling the development of a roadmap as an “ethical” response to the global warming emergency.

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

The topic stands as one of the most debated matters at the COP30 in the host country, with nations divided over whether and in what way such a strategy can be discussed. As the host, Brazil has adopted a balanced stance on which items can be placed on the official agenda.

The official expressed support for the potential of a roadmap, though not explicitly pledging the country to it. The minister stated: “When we have a terrain that is quite grim, it is good that we have a guide. But the map does not compel us to travel, or to climb.”

In an interview, she added: “The map is an answer to our scientific understanding [of the climate emergency]. It is an ethical response.”

Dozens of nations gathered in the host city for the UN climate summit, which is starting its next phase, are aiming to establish how a worldwide transition of oil, gas, and coal could work. They aim to build on a historic agreement reached two years ago at COP28 to “move away from fossil fuels.”

The pledge lacked a schedule or details on the way it could be realized, and even though it was passed by all, several countries have since attempted to disavow the promise. Efforts last year to expand on its practical implications were stymied by opposition from oil-dependent nations at COP29.

As a result, there was no reference of the shift away from fossil fuels in the final agreement of COP29.

For these reasons, the host has been cautious of calls by some countries to include the phaseout on the schedule for the current summit. But Silva has worked hard behind the scenes to make sure the pledge could be discussed at the conference outside the official agenda.

The minister won over Brazil’s leader, who made public reference three times to the need to “move away from reliance on fossil fuels” at the global leaders' meeting that preceded COP30, and at the opening of the summit.

“This is a matter that we know at some point had to be raised, because it is the only way to address the issue from the root,” the minister explained. “We recognise that it is not easy, and we must not offer false hopes. Bringing up the topic is courageous, and I hope [to see] this bravery from everyone, from producing nations and using countries.”

The nation had not started the push for a transition, she clarified, because that had been initiated at the earlier summit. Rather, it was enabling the talks to take place in accordance with what certain countries wished. “We know these subjects are sensitive. We will give the opportunity to discuss it,” the minister said.

Time is insufficient at the summit to draw up a detailed plan, a process the minister called could take several years because many nations faced complex issues around dependence on fossil fuels, or aimed to use the revenue from exporting oil and gas to fund their development.

“Brazil raises the topic, because it is both a producing nation and user,” she said. “But the nation is different, because it, if it chooses to, need not rely on non-renewables. We have to recognise that there are some that rely on carbon energy in their economies and don’t have easy solutions, and others where oil and gas are the basis of their economic structure.

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

Should the pledge gains enough backing, COP30 could set up a platform in which the work of drawing up a roadmap to the transition could begin.

This process would require discussions with every participating nations to the UN framework convention on climate change and guidelines for how the process would proceed, Silva said. “Once we have criteria, a management framework can be developed; once we have a strategy, and create safeguards to be able to establish confidence in the system, I am confident that with these elements we can turn good ideas into steps that are clearer, and more concrete.”

There is no guarantee that a proposal to start developing a roadmap would be accepted at the conference, although it does not require the official approval of the summit, which operates by unanimous agreement and can be disrupted by particular groups. Climate analysts have suggested they believe there could be backing for such a idea from about 60 countries, but there are thought to be at least forty opposed. There are 195 nations participating at the negotiations.

“In spite of being the root cause of climate change, carbon-based energy are about the most contentious topic there is within the international climate talks, so to see a chunky coalition of countries openly backing a route to realizing worldwide phaseout is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

“Put simply, there’s no route to a planet where warming remains below 1.5C in which countries aren’t able to talk about ending fossil fuel use.”

“We require this wording for real in this discussion. It’s highly illogical that we discuss all topics but that when the main issue are the actual challenge.”

Negotiations carried on on the weekend on four unresolved issues that have still not been included into the formal agenda: commerce, openness, funding and how to tackle the shortfall between the emissions cuts nations have proposed and those required to hold to the 1.5C warming limit.

The summit chair pledged a “document” that would address these issues, after consultations – which have been underway since Monday – were unresolved. The official urged countries to adopt the “mutirão” spirit, meaning one of collaboration and positive dialogue.

Work on additional key topics – including adjustment to the impacts of the climate emergency, the fair shift for those affected by the transition to a green economic system and how to strengthen institutional capacity in developing countries – proceeded productively, the presidency reported.

The host nation's chief negotiator said the technical phase of the summit proceedings was approaching the end, and the high-level phase – when ministers who have the power to alter their nations' positions join – was starting.