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The climate chief, Marina Silva, has urged all nations to demonstrate the courage needed to confront the imperative of a worldwide fossil fuel phaseout, labeling the development of a roadmap as an “moral” response to the global warming emergency.

The minister emphasized, however, that involvement in this process would be optional and “independently decided” for interested nations.

This issue remains one of the most contentious subjects at the UN climate summit in Brazil, with nations divided over whether and in what way such a roadmap can be discussed. As the host, Brazil has maintained a carefully neutral position on what can be included on the formal agenda.

Silva expressed approval for the possibility of a roadmap, without explicitly committing Brazil to it. The minister remarked: “When we have a situation that is very challenging, it is good that we have a map. But the map does not force us to proceed, or to climb.”

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

Dozens of countries gathered in Belém for the global climate conference, which is starting its second week, are aiming to establish how a global transition of fossil fuels could be implemented. These nations aim to build on a landmark resolution reached two years ago at a previous UN summit to “transition away from fossil fuels.”

That commitment had no a timetable or specifics on how it could be realized, and although it was passed by all, several countries have since attempted to back away from the pledge. Efforts last year to elaborate on its real-world implications were stymied by opposition from petrostates at COP29.

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

Because of this, the host has been wary of demands by certain nations to place the phaseout on the schedule for COP30. But the minister has worked hard in private to make sure the pledge could be talked about at the summit apart from the formal program.

She won over the nation's leader, and he gave mention repeatedly to the need to “shift from dependence on fossil fuels” at the summit of world leaders that preceded the conference, and at the opening of the event.

“The issue is a matter that we know at some point had to be put forward, because it is the only way to face the issue from the source,” Marina Silva explained. “We recognise that it is not easy, and we must not sell false hopes. Raising the topic is courageous, and I hope [to see] this courage from everyone, from producers and consumers.”

The nation had not started the push for a transition, she said, because that had been done at COP28. Instead, it was enabling the talks to take place in accordance with what some countries desired. “We understand these topics are delicate. We will give the opportunity to talk about it,” she said.

There is not enough time at the summit to create a roadmap, a process the minister called could take a number of years because numerous nations faced complicated issues around reliance on fossil fuels, or wanted to use the proceeds from selling fossil fuels to finance their economic growth.

“Brazil raises the topic, because Brazil is both a producing nation and user,” she noted. “But Brazil is unique, because Brazil, if it chooses to, does not have to rely on non-renewables. We have to understand that there are some that depend on carbon energy in their economic systems and don’t have easy alternatives, and some where fossil fuels are the basis of their economy.

“To be just is to be fair to everyone, but the fundamental, basic justice is to avoid being unjust to the planet, because it is our home.”

If the pledge gains enough support, COP30 could establish a platform in which the process of creating a strategy to the transition could start.

This process would require discussions with all signatory countries to the UN climate treaty and guidelines for how the initiative 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 build confidence in the process, I believe that with these components we can transform good ideas into steps that are more defined, and more concrete.”

There is no guarantee that a proposal to begin drawing up a roadmap would be accepted at COP30, although it does not require the formal consent of the summit, which operates by unanimous agreement and can be hijacked by particular groups. COP experts have suggested they believe there could be support for such a idea from about 60 countries, but there are thought to be at least forty opposed. A total of 195 nations participating at the talks.

“Despite being the primary source of global warming, carbon-based energy are about the most divisive topic there is within the international climate talks, so to see a sizable group of nations publicly supporting a route to achieving worldwide phaseout is in itself highly significant.”

“In simple terms, there’s no route to a world where temperature rise stays below 1.5C in which countries cannot to discuss ending fossil fuel use.”

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

Discussions continued on the weekend on four outstanding issues that have still not been incorporated into the formal agenda: trade, transparency, funding and how to address the shortfall between the carbon reduction countries have planned and those needed to keep to the 1.5C temperature limit.

A summit chair promised a “document” that would cover these issues, after discussions – which have been underway since Monday – were inconclusive. The official called on nations to adopt the “mutirão” attitude, meaning one of collaboration and constructive dialogue.

Progress on additional substantive topics – including adaptation to the effects of the climate crisis, the fair shift for those affected by the transition to a green economy and how to strengthen institutional capacity in less developed nations – proceeded productively, the host said.

Brazil’s lead representative stated the detailed phase of the summit process was nearing completion, and the political stage – when ministers who have the authority to change their nations' stances arrive – was starting.