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Brazil’s environment minister, the minister, has urged all nations to demonstrate the bravery needed to confront the imperative of a global fossil fuel phaseout, labeling the creation of a detailed plan as an “ethical” answer to the global warming emergency.

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

This issue stands as one of the most debated matters at the UN climate summit in the host country, with nations split over whether and how such a roadmap can be addressed. As the host, the nation has adopted a carefully neutral position on which items can be placed on the formal schedule.

The official expressed support for the potential of a plan, without directly pledging Brazil to it. She stated: “In times we have a situation that is quite grim, it is helpful that we have a guide. But the map does not force us to proceed, or to climb.”

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

Scores of countries meeting in Belém for the global climate conference, which is starting its next phase, are aiming to establish how a global transition of oil, gas, and coal could work. These nations hope to advance a landmark agreement reached two years ago at COP28 to “transition away from non-renewable energy sources.”

The pledge had no a schedule or details on the way it could be achieved, and even though it was passed by all, several nations have later attempted to back away from the promise. Efforts last year to expand on its practical meaning were stymied by resistance from oil-dependent nations at COP29.

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

Because of this, the host has been cautious of calls by some countries to place the transition on the agenda for COP30. But Silva has worked hard in private to ensure the topic could be discussed at the conference apart from the official agenda.

The minister won over the nation's president, and he made public reference repeatedly to the need to “move away from dependence on traditional energy” at the summit of world leaders that preceded COP30, and at the opening of the summit.

“This is something that we understand at a certain time had to be put forward, because it is the sole way to address the problem from the root,” Marina Silva said. “We recognise that it is not easy, and we cannot offer false hopes. Raising the subject is courageous, and I hope [to see] this courage from all, from producers and consumers.”

The nation had not initiated the push for a phaseout, she said, because that had been initiated at COP28. Rather, it was allowing the discussions to take place in line with what certain nations wished. “We understand these subjects are delicate. We will give the chance to discuss it,” the minister said.

There is not enough time at COP30 to create a roadmap, a process the minister said could take a number of years because many nations confronted complex issues around reliance on fossil fuels, or aimed to use the proceeds from exporting fossil fuels to fund their development.

“The country raises the subject, because Brazil is both a producer and user,” the minister said. “But the nation is different, because it, if it wants to, need not depend on fossil fuels. We have to understand that there are some that depend on fossil fuels in their economies and don’t have easy alternatives, and some where oil and gas are the foundation of their economy.

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

Should the pledge gains enough backing, the summit could establish a forum in which the process of creating a strategy to the transition could start.

This process would involve dialogue with every participating countries to the UN climate treaty and guidelines for how the process would proceed, the minister explained. “Once we have criteria, a management framework can be drawn up; after we have a strategy, and establish safeguards to be able to establish trust in the system, I believe that with these components we can turn positive concepts into actions that are more defined, and more tangible.”

It is uncertain that a suggestion to begin developing a roadmap would win approval at COP30, even if it may not need the official consent of the conference, which proceeds by unanimous agreement and can be hijacked by special interests. Climate analysts have suggested they believe there could be support for such a proposal from about 60 nations, but there are believed to be at least forty against. There are 195 countries represented at the negotiations.

“In spite of being the primary source of climate change, fossil fuels are about the most divisive topic there is within the UN negotiations, so to see a chunky group of nations openly backing a path to realizing worldwide phaseout is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

“Put simply, there’s no path to a planet where warming stays below 1.5 degrees in which countries cannot to talk about fossil fuel phaseout.”

“We need this wording for real in this conversation. It’s highly illogical that we talk about everything but then when the main issue are the actual problem.”

Negotiations carried on on the weekend on several outstanding topics that have still not been included into the official agenda: commerce, transparency, funding and how to address the shortfall between the carbon reduction countries have planned and those needed to hold to the 1.5C warming target.

A COP30 president promised a “note” that would cover these matters, after discussions – which have been going on since the start of the week – were inconclusive. He urged countries to embrace the “mutirão” spirit, meaning one of cooperation and positive discussion.

Progress on other key topics – including adaptation to the effects of the climate emergency, the just transition for those affected by the transition to a low-carbon economy and how to strengthen governance capabilities in developing countries – proceeded productively, the host said.

Brazil’s lead representative stated the detailed part of the summit process was nearing completion, and the high-level stage – when ministers who have the authority to change their countries’ stances arrive – was beginning.