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The climate chief, the minister, has urged every country to show the courage needed to confront the imperative of a global transition away from fossil fuels, describing the development of a roadmap as an “ethical” answer to the climate crisis.

The minister stressed, however, that participation in this endeavor would be optional and “self-determined” for interested nations.

The topic stands as one of the most contentious matters at the UN climate summit in Brazil, with countries divided over if and how such a roadmap can be addressed. As the host, Brazil has adopted a carefully neutral stance on which items can be included on the formal agenda.

Silva expressed approval for the possibility of a roadmap, though not directly committing Brazil to it. She remarked: “In times we have a terrain that is very challenging, it is good that we have a guide. But the map does not force us to proceed, or to climb.”

Speaking further, the minister noted: “The map is an response to our scientific knowledge [of the climate crisis]. It is an moral response.”

Dozens of nations gathered in Belém for the global climate conference, which is starting its second week, are aiming to establish how a worldwide phaseout of fossil fuels could work. These nations hope to build on a landmark resolution made two years ago at COP28 to “move away from fossil fuels.”

The commitment had no a schedule or specifics on the way it could be realized, and although it was passed unanimously, some countries have since tried to disavow the pledge. Attempts last year to elaborate on its real-world meaning were stymied by opposition from oil-dependent nations at another UN summit.

Consequently, there was no reference of the shift away from fossil fuels in the outcome of that conference.

For these reasons, the host has been cautious of calls by certain countries to place the phaseout on the agenda for the current summit. But Silva has worked hard in private to make sure the topic could be talked about at the conference apart from the official agenda.

The minister won over Brazil’s leader, who gave public reference three times to the need to “move away from reliance on fossil fuels” at the global leaders' meeting that came before COP30, 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 sole way to face the issue from the root,” Marina Silva said. “We recognise that it is not easy, and we must not offer false hopes. Bringing up the topic is courageous, and I hope [to see] this courage from all, from producers and consumers.”

Brazil had not started the push for a transition, the minister clarified, because that had been done at COP28. Instead, it was enabling the discussions to occur in accordance with what some nations desired. “We understand these topics are delicate. We will provide the opportunity to discuss it,” the minister said.

There is not enough time at the summit to draw up a detailed plan, a task Silva called could take several years because many nations faced complex issues around dependence on carbon-based energy, or aimed to use the proceeds from selling oil and gas to finance their development.

“The country brings up the topic, because it is simultaneously a producer and user,” 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 fossil fuels in their economies and lack simple alternatives, and others where fossil fuels are the basis of their economic structure.

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

Should the proposal receives sufficient support, the summit could establish a platform in which the process of drawing up a roadmap to the phaseout could start.

The endeavor would involve discussions with all participating countries to the UN climate treaty and criteria for how the initiative would proceed, the minister said. “Once we have standards, a management framework can be developed; once we have a plan, and create protections to be able to establish confidence in the system, I believe that with these elements we can turn good ideas into actions that are more defined, and more concrete.”

There is no guarantee that a proposal to begin developing a roadmap would be accepted at COP30, even if it does not require the official consent of the summit, which operates by consensus and can be disrupted by special interests. Climate experts have suggested they think there could be backing for such a proposal from about sixty countries, but there are thought to be at least 40 against. A total of 195 countries represented at the talks.

“In spite of being the root cause of global warming, carbon-based energy are about the most divisive topic there is within the international climate talks, so to see a sizable coalition of countries publicly backing a route to realizing worldwide phaseout is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

“In simple terms, there’s no route to a planet where temperature rise remains below 1.5 degrees in which nations cannot to discuss fossil fuel phaseout.”

“We need this wording for actual in this discussion. It’s highly illogical that we discuss all topics but then when the main issue are the real problem.”

Discussions carried on on Saturday on four unresolved issues that have still not been included into the official schedule: commerce, openness, funding and how to address the shortfall between the emissions cuts countries have planned and those needed to hold to the 1.5C temperature target.

The summit chair promised a “document” that would address these matters, after consultations – which have been underway since the start of the week – were inconclusive. The official urged nations to adopt the “mutirão” spirit, meaning one of collaboration and constructive dialogue.

Work on additional key issues – such as adjustment to the impacts of the climate emergency, the fair shift for those impacted by the transition to a low-carbon economic system and how to build institutional capacity in developing countries – carried on constructively, the host said.

Brazil’s chief negotiator stated the detailed part of the summit process was nearing completion, and the high-level phase – when ministers who have the power to change their countries’ stances join – was starting.