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Brazil’s environment minister, the minister, has urged every country to demonstrate the courage needed to address the imperative of a worldwide transition away from fossil fuels, describing the development of a roadmap as an “moral” answer to the climate crisis.

She emphasized, though, that involvement in this process would be voluntary and “independently decided” for interested governments.

This issue stands as one of the most contentious subjects at the COP30 in the host country, with countries split over if and how such a strategy can be addressed. As the host, Brazil has maintained a balanced stance on what can be included on the formal agenda.

Silva voiced approval for the potential of a roadmap, though not directly committing the country to it. The minister stated: “When we have a terrain 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 roadmap is an answer to our scientific knowledge [of the climate crisis]. It is an ethical response.”

Scores of nations meeting in the host city for the global climate conference, which is starting its second week, are aiming to establish how a global phaseout of fossil fuels could be implemented. These nations aim to build on a historic agreement made two years ago at a previous UN summit to “move away from non-renewable energy sources.”

The commitment lacked a timetable or details on the way it could be realized, and although it was passed unanimously, several countries have later attempted to back away from the promise. Efforts last year to expand on its practical meaning were blocked by opposition from oil-dependent nations at COP29.

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

Because of this, the host has been wary of calls by certain countries to place the transition on the agenda for the current summit. But the minister has worked hard in private to ensure the pledge could be discussed at the summit apart from the official program.

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

“The issue is something that we understand at a certain time had to be put forward, because it is the only way to address the problem from the source,” Marina Silva said. “We acknowledge that it is not easy, and we cannot offer false hopes. Raising the subject is courageous, and I wish [to see] this bravery from all, from producing nations and consumers.”

The nation had not started the push for a phaseout, she said, because that had been done at the earlier summit. Rather, it was allowing the discussions to occur in line with what some nations wished. “We understand these subjects are delicate. We will provide the chance to talk about it,” the minister added.

Time is insufficient at the summit to create a detailed plan, a task Silva called could take a number of years because many nations confronted complicated issues around reliance on carbon-based energy, or aimed to use the proceeds from exporting fossil fuels to finance their development.

“The country raises the subject, because it is both a producer and consumer,” the minister said. “But Brazil is unique, because it, if it chooses to, does not have to depend on non-renewables. We have to understand that there are certain nations that rely on fossil fuels in their economies and lack easy alternatives, and some where fossil fuels are the foundation of their economy.

“To be just is to be fair to all, but the fundamental, primordial justice is not being unjust to the planet, because it is our shared home.”

Should the proposal gains sufficient backing, the summit could set up a forum in which the work of drawing up a strategy to the transition could start.

This endeavor would involve dialogue with all signatory nations to the UN climate treaty and guidelines for how the process would unfold, the minister explained. “After we have standards, a governance structure can be developed; once we have a plan, and create safeguards to be able to build trust in the process, I believe that with these elements we can transform positive concepts into steps that are clearer, and more tangible.”

It is uncertain that a proposal to start developing a roadmap would win approval at COP30, although it may not need the formal approval of the summit, which operates by consensus and can be disrupted by particular groups. Climate experts have suggested they believe there could be backing for such a idea from about sixty nations, but there are thought to be at least 40 opposed. A total of one hundred ninety-five nations represented at the talks.

“In spite of being the primary source of global warming, fossil fuels are about the most contentious topic there is within the international climate talks, so to see a chunky coalition of countries publicly supporting a route to achieving worldwide transition is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

“Put simply, there’s no path to a planet where temperature rise remains below 1.5C in which countries cannot to discuss ending fossil fuel use.”

“We need this wording for real in this conversation. It’s quite stupid that we discuss all topics but that when fossil fuels are the actual challenge.”

Negotiations carried on on the weekend on four outstanding topics that have still not been incorporated into the formal schedule: commerce, transparency, funding and how to address the shortfall between the carbon reduction countries have proposed and those needed to hold to the 1.5C temperature target.

The summit president pledged a “document” that would cover these matters, after discussions – which have been going on since Monday – were unresolved. He called on nations to adopt the “mutirão” attitude, meaning one of collaboration and positive discussion.

Work on other substantive issues – such as adaptation to the impacts of the climate crisis, the just transition for those impacted by the transition to a low-carbon economic system and how to build governance capabilities in less developed nations – proceeded constructively, the presidency reported.

Brazil’s chief negotiator said the technical phase of the COP process was approaching completion, and the high-level phase – when government leaders who have the power to change their countries’ positions join – was starting.