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Brazil’s environment minister, the minister, has urged all nations to show the courage needed to address the necessity of a worldwide transition away from fossil fuels, labeling the development of a detailed plan as an “moral” response to the climate crisis.

The minister emphasized, though, that participation in this process would be optional and “independently decided” for interested governments.

The topic stands as one of the most debated matters at the UN climate summit in Brazil, with nations divided over whether and how such a roadmap can be addressed. Hosting the event, the nation has maintained a carefully neutral position on which items can be included on the official schedule.

Silva voiced approval for the potential of a plan, without explicitly committing Brazil to it. She remarked: “In times we have a terrain that is very challenging, it is helpful that we have a guide. But the guide does not compel us to proceed, or to advance.”

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

Dozens of countries gathered in the host city for the global climate conference, which is entering its next phase, are seeking to determine how a worldwide transition of fossil fuels could work. They aim to build on a landmark resolution reached two years ago at COP28 to “transition away from non-renewable energy sources.”

That pledge lacked a timetable or specifics on how it could be achieved, and although it was passed unanimously, several countries have later attempted to disavow the pledge. Attempts last year to expand on its real-world meaning were stymied by opposition from petrostates at COP29.

Consequently, there was no mention of the transition away from fossil fuels in the final agreement of COP29.

Because of this, Brazil has been wary of calls by certain nations to include the transition on the agenda for COP30. But the minister has worked hard behind the scenes to make sure the pledge could be discussed at the conference outside the formal program.

She convinced Brazil’s leader, and he gave mention three times to the need to “move away from dependence on fossil fuels” at the global leaders' meeting that preceded the conference, and at the opening of the event.

“The issue is something that we know at some point had to be put forward, because it is the only way to address the issue from the source,” Marina Silva explained. “We acknowledge that it is not easy, and we must not offer unrealistic expectations. Raising the subject is courageous, and I hope [to see] this bravery from everyone, from producers and consumers.”

The nation had not initiated the push for a transition, the minister said, because that had been done at the earlier summit. Instead, it was enabling the talks to take place in accordance with what some countries desired. “We understand these topics are sensitive. We will give the chance to discuss it,” the minister added.

Time is insufficient at COP30 to create a roadmap, a task the minister called could take a number of years because numerous nations confronted complicated challenges around dependence on fossil fuels, or wanted to use the proceeds from exporting fossil fuels to finance their economic growth.

“Brazil raises the topic, because Brazil is simultaneously a producer and user,” she 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 solutions, and some where fossil fuels are the foundation of their economic structure.

“To be fair is to be fair to everyone, but the essential, primordial justice is not being unjust to the Earth, because it is our home.”

If the proposal gains enough support, COP30 could set up a forum in which the process of drawing up a roadmap to the phaseout could begin.

This endeavor would require discussions with every participating countries to the UN framework convention on climate change and criteria for how the process would proceed, the minister said. “Once we have standards, a governance structure can be drawn up; after we have a plan, and establish safeguards to be able to establish trust in the process, I am confident that with these components we can transform positive concepts into actions that are more defined, and more tangible.”

It is uncertain that a proposal to start drawing up a roadmap would win approval at the conference, although it does not require the official consent of the conference, which operates by consensus and can be hijacked by special interests. Climate analysts have indicated they believe there could be support for such a proposal from about sixty countries, but there are believed to be at least 40 against. There are one hundred ninety-five nations represented at the talks.

“Despite being the primary source of climate change, fossil fuels are about the most divisive topic there is within the international climate talks, so to see a sizable group of countries openly supporting a path to realizing worldwide phaseout is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

“Put simply, there’s no path to a world where warming remains below 1.5C in which nations cannot to talk about fossil fuel phaseout.”

“We require this language for real in this conversation. It’s highly illogical that we discuss all topics but that when fossil fuels are the real challenge.”

Discussions continued on Saturday on several outstanding topics that have still not been incorporated into the official schedule: commerce, openness, funding and how to tackle the shortfall between the emissions cuts nations have proposed and those required to hold to the 1.5-degree temperature target.

The summit chair promised a “note” that would address these issues, after consultations – which have been going on since Monday – were unresolved. The official called on nations to embrace the “mutirão” attitude, meaning one of collaboration and positive dialogue.

Progress on other key topics – including adjustment to the effects of the climate emergency, the just transition for those impacted by the move to a green economic system and how to strengthen institutional capacity in developing countries – proceeded productively, the presidency reported.

Brazil’s chief negotiator stated the technical phase of the summit proceedings was nearing the end, and the high-level phase – when government leaders who have the power to change their countries’ positions arrive – was starting.