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The environment minister, Marina Silva, has called on every country to show the bravery needed to confront the necessity of a worldwide fossil fuel phaseout, labeling the development of a roadmap as an “ethical” response to the climate crisis.

She emphasized, though, that involvement in this endeavor would be optional and “self-determined” for interested nations.

This issue stands as one of the most contentious subjects at the COP30 in the host country, with nations split over whether and how such a strategy can be addressed. Hosting the event, the nation has maintained a balanced position on which items can be included on the official schedule.

Silva voiced approval for the possibility of a roadmap, without directly pledging Brazil to it. The minister remarked: “When we have a situation that is very challenging, it is helpful that we have a map. But the map does not force us to proceed, or to advance.”

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

Scores of nations meeting in Belém for the global climate conference, which is starting its second week, are seeking to determine how a global phaseout of fossil fuels could work. These nations aim to advance a landmark resolution made two years ago at a previous UN summit to “move away from non-renewable energy sources.”

The pledge had no a schedule or specifics on the way it could be achieved, and although it was adopted unanimously, some nations have later attempted to disavow the pledge. Attempts last year to elaborate on its practical meaning were stymied by resistance from oil-dependent nations at COP29.

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

Because of this, Brazil has been cautious of calls by some countries to include the transition on the schedule for the current summit. But Silva has strived behind the scenes to ensure the pledge could be discussed at the conference apart from the formal agenda.

She convinced Brazil’s president, and he made mention three times to the need to “shift from reliance on fossil fuels” at the global leaders' meeting that came before the conference, and at the opening of the event.

“This is something that we understand at some point had to be raised, because it is the sole way to address the issue from the root,” Marina Silva explained. “We recognise that it is not easy, and we must not offer false hopes. Raising the subject is brave, and I wish [to see] this courage from everyone, from producers and using countries.”

The nation had not started the call for a phaseout, the minister clarified, because that had been done at the earlier summit. Rather, it was allowing the discussions to occur in accordance with what certain countries wished. “We know these subjects are sensitive. We will give the chance to talk about it,” she said.

Time is insufficient at COP30 to create a roadmap, a process Silva called could take a number of years because numerous nations faced complicated challenges around dependence on carbon-based energy, or aimed to use the proceeds from selling fossil fuels to finance their economic growth.

“The country brings up the subject, because Brazil is both a producer and consumer,” she said. “But the nation is different, because it, if it wants to, does not have to rely on non-renewables. We have to recognise that there are certain nations that rely on carbon energy in their economies and lack easy solutions, and others where oil and gas are the foundation of their economic structure.

“To be fair is to be just to everyone, but the essential, primordial justice is to avoid being unfair to the Earth, because it is our shared home.”

Should the pledge gains sufficient support, the summit could establish a platform in which the process of drawing up a roadmap to the transition could start.

This endeavor would require dialogue with all participating countries to the UN climate treaty and guidelines for how the initiative would unfold, Silva explained. “Once we have standards, a governance structure can be developed; once we have a plan, and create safeguards to be able to establish trust in the system, I believe that with these components we can turn good ideas into steps that are clearer, and more concrete.”

There is no guarantee that a proposal to begin drawing up a plan would be accepted at COP30, even if it does not require the official approval of the summit, which operates by unanimous agreement and can be disrupted by particular groups. COP experts have indicated they think there could be support for such a proposal from about 60 nations, but there are believed to be at least 40 opposed. A total of one hundred ninety-five countries represented at the negotiations.

“In spite of being the primary source of climate change, carbon-based energy are about the most contentious topic there is within the UN negotiations, so to see a sizable group of countries openly supporting a route to achieving 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 countries aren’t able to discuss fossil fuel phaseout.”

“We require this language for real in this discussion. It’s highly illogical that we talk about everything but then when fossil fuels are the real challenge.”

Negotiations continued on the weekend on four outstanding issues that have not yet been included into the official schedule: trade, openness, funding and how to address the gap between the carbon reduction nations have proposed and those needed to keep to the 1.5-degree warming target.

A COP30 chair promised a “document” that would cover these matters, after consultations – which have been underway since the start of the week – were unresolved. The official urged countries to adopt the “mutirão” spirit, referring to one of collaboration and constructive discussion.

Progress on additional substantive issues – including adjustment to the effects of the climate crisis, the fair shift for those impacted by the move to a low-carbon economic system and how to strengthen governance capabilities in less developed nations – carried on productively, the presidency reported.

Brazil’s chief negotiator said the detailed part of the COP proceedings was nearing completion, and the political stage – when ministers who have the authority to change their countries’ stances join – was starting.