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Brazil’s environment minister, the minister, has called on all nations to demonstrate the bravery needed to address the necessity of a global fossil fuel phaseout, labeling the creation of a roadmap as an “ethical” response to the climate crisis.

She stressed, though, that involvement in this process would be optional and “self-determined” for willing nations.

The topic stands as one of the most contentious matters at the UN climate summit in the host country, with nations split over if and in what way such a strategy can be addressed. Hosting the event, Brazil has adopted a balanced stance on which items can be placed on the official schedule.

The official expressed support for the potential of a plan, without directly committing the country to it. The minister stated: “In times we have a situation that is quite grim, it is good that we have a guide. But the guide does not compel us to travel, or to advance.”

Speaking further, she noted: “The map is an answer to our scientific understanding [of the climate emergency]. It is an ethical answer.”

Scores of countries gathered in Belém for the global climate conference, which is entering its next phase, are seeking to determine how a worldwide phaseout of fossil fuels could be implemented. They hope to advance a landmark resolution made two years ago at a previous UN summit to “transition away from non-renewable energy sources.”

The commitment lacked a schedule or specifics on how it could be achieved, and although it was adopted unanimously, some nations have later tried to disavow the pledge. Attempts 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 carbon fuels in the outcome of that conference.

For these reasons, the host has been wary of calls by certain countries to place the phaseout on the schedule for the current summit. But Silva has strived behind the scenes to ensure the topic could be talked about at the conference apart from the official program.

The minister convinced the nation's leader, and he gave public reference repeatedly to the need to “move away from reliance on fossil fuels” at the summit of world leaders that preceded COP30, and at the start of the event.

“The issue is something that we know at a certain time had to be raised, because it is the sole way to face the problem from the source,” the minister said. “We recognise that it is not easy, and we cannot offer false hopes. Bringing up the subject is brave, and I wish [to see] this courage from all, from producing nations and consumers.”

The nation had not started the push for a phaseout, the minister clarified, because that had been done at COP28. Instead, it was allowing the discussions to take place in accordance with what certain nations desired. “We understand these subjects are sensitive. We will provide the opportunity to discuss it,” she added.

Time is insufficient at the summit to draw up a detailed plan, a process the minister called could take several years because numerous nations faced complicated challenges around reliance on fossil fuels, or aimed to use the revenue from exporting oil and gas to finance their development.

“Brazil raises the topic, because it is both a producer and user,” she said. “But Brazil is unique, because Brazil, if it chooses to, need not depend on fossil fuels. We have to recognise that there are some that depend on fossil fuels in their economic systems and don’t have easy alternatives, and others where oil and gas are the basis of their economy.

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

Should the pledge receives sufficient support, COP30 could establish a forum in which the process of drawing up a roadmap to the transition could start.

The endeavor would involve dialogue with every signatory nations to the UN framework convention on climate change and guidelines for how the process would unfold, the minister explained. “After we have criteria, a management framework can be developed; after we have a plan, and create protections to be able to establish confidence in the process, I am confident that with these elements we can turn good ideas into actions that are more defined, and more concrete.”

There is no guarantee that a proposal to begin developing a roadmap would win approval at the conference, even if it may not need the official consent of the summit, which proceeds by unanimous agreement and can be hijacked by particular groups. Climate analysts have indicated they believe there could be backing for such a idea from about sixty nations, but there are believed to be at least forty against. There are 195 nations participating at the talks.

“Despite being the primary source of global warming, fossil fuels are about the most divisive subject there is within the UN negotiations, so to see a chunky group of nations publicly supporting a route to realizing worldwide transition is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

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

“We need this language for real in this discussion. It’s quite stupid that we discuss everything but then when fossil fuels are the actual problem.”

Discussions continued on Saturday on four unresolved issues that have still not been incorporated into the formal agenda: commerce, openness, finance and how to tackle the gap between the emissions cuts countries have proposed and those needed to keep to the 1.5-degree warming limit.

A COP30 chair promised a “note” that would address these matters, after discussions – which have been going on since the start of the week – were inconclusive. He urged nations to embrace the “mutirão” spirit, meaning one of cooperation and constructive dialogue.

Work on other substantive issues – including adjustment to the effects of the climate crisis, the fair shift for those impacted by the move to a green economy and how to build governance capabilities in developing countries – proceeded constructively, the host reported.

Brazil’s chief negotiator said the technical part of the COP proceedings was approaching completion, and the political stage – when government leaders who have the authority to change their countries’ stances arrive – was beginning.