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The climate chief, the minister, has called on all nations to show the courage needed to confront the necessity of a worldwide transition away from fossil fuels, describing the development of a roadmap as an “ethical” answer to the climate crisis.

The minister emphasized, however, that participation in this endeavor would be optional and “self-determined” for willing governments.

The topic remains one of the most contentious matters at the UN climate summit in the host country, with countries split over if and in what way such a roadmap can be addressed. As the host, Brazil has adopted a carefully neutral stance on what can be included on the official agenda.

Silva voiced approval for the potential of a plan, though not explicitly pledging the country to it. She stated: “When we have a situation that is quite grim, it is good that we have a map. But the guide does not compel us to proceed, or to climb.”

In an interview, the minister noted: “The roadmap is an answer to our scientific knowledge [of the climate crisis]. It is an ethical response.”

Dozens of countries meeting in the host city for the UN climate summit, which is starting its second week, are aiming to establish how a global phaseout of fossil fuels could work. These nations aim to build on a historic resolution reached two years ago at COP28 to “transition away from fossil fuels.”

That pledge lacked a schedule or specifics on the way it could be realized, and even though it was passed by all, some countries have since tried to disavow the promise. Attempts last year to elaborate on its real-world meaning were blocked by opposition from oil-dependent nations at another UN summit.

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

For these reasons, Brazil has been cautious of demands by some nations to include the transition on the agenda for the current summit. But the minister has strived in private to ensure the pledge could be talked about at the conference outside the official program.

The minister convinced the nation's president, and he gave mention three times to the need to “move away from reliance on traditional energy” at the global leaders' meeting that came before COP30, and at the opening of the summit.

“This is a matter that we understand at some point had to be raised, because it is the only way to address the problem from the source,” the minister said. “We recognise that it is not easy, and we must not sell false hopes. Raising the subject is brave, and I hope [to see] this bravery from everyone, from producing nations and using countries.”

The nation had not started the push for a phaseout, she clarified, because that had been done at the earlier summit. Instead, it was enabling the talks to occur in line with what certain countries wished. “We understand these topics are sensitive. We will provide the chance to discuss it,” she added.

Time is insufficient at the summit to draw up a detailed plan, a process Silva called could take a number of years because numerous nations faced complex issues around reliance on carbon-based energy, or wanted to use the revenue from exporting fossil fuels to fund their development.

“The country raises the subject, because Brazil is simultaneously a producer and consumer,” she noted. “But Brazil is different, because it, if it wants to, does not have to rely on fossil fuels. We have to understand that there are some that depend on carbon energy in their economic systems and don’t have simple alternatives, and some where oil and gas are the basis of their economic structure.

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

Should the pledge gains enough support, the summit could establish a forum in which the process of creating a roadmap to the transition could begin.

This process would involve discussions with all participating nations to the UN framework convention on climate change and criteria for how the process would unfold, Silva said. “Once we have criteria, a management framework can be drawn up; after we have a plan, and create safeguards to be able to establish trust in the process, I believe that with these components we can turn good ideas into actions that are clearer, and more tangible.”

There is no guarantee that a suggestion to start developing a roadmap would be accepted at COP30, although it does not require the official approval of the summit, which proceeds by consensus and can be disrupted by special interests. COP analysts have indicated they think there could be support for such a idea from about sixty nations, but there are thought to be at least 40 against. There are one hundred ninety-five nations represented at the talks.

“Despite being the root cause of global warming, carbon-based energy are about the most contentious subject there is within the UN negotiations, so to see a chunky coalition of nations publicly supporting a route to realizing worldwide phaseout is in itself highly significant.”

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

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

Negotiations continued on Saturday on four unresolved topics that have still not been incorporated into the formal schedule: trade, transparency, finance and how to address the gap between the emissions cuts countries have proposed and those required to keep to the 1.5-degree temperature limit.

A COP30 president pledged a “document” that would cover these matters, after discussions – which have been going on since the start of the week – were unresolved. He called on countries to embrace the “mutirão” spirit, referring to one of cooperation and constructive discussion.

Work on other key issues – such as adjustment to the impacts of the climate emergency, the fair shift for those affected by the transition to a low-carbon economy and how to strengthen institutional capacity in less developed nations – carried on constructively, the host said.

Brazil’s chief negotiator stated the technical part of the COP proceedings was nearing the end, and the high-level stage – when government leaders who have the authority to alter their nations' positions arrive – was starting.