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The environment minister, the minister, has called on all nations to show the courage needed to confront the imperative of a worldwide transition away from fossil fuels, describing the creation of a detailed plan as an “moral” response to the climate crisis.

The minister stressed, however, that participation in this process would be voluntary and “self-determined” for willing governments.

This issue stands as one of the most contentious matters at the COP30 in the host country, with countries divided over if and in what way such a strategy can be addressed. Hosting the event, Brazil has adopted a balanced position on what can be included on the formal agenda.

Silva expressed approval for the possibility of a roadmap, without explicitly committing the country to it. The minister remarked: “In times we have a terrain that is quite grim, it is helpful that we have a guide. But the map does not compel us to proceed, or to advance.”

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

Scores of countries gathered in Belém for the UN climate summit, which is entering its second week, are aiming to establish how a worldwide transition of fossil fuels could be implemented. They aim to advance a historic resolution reached two years ago at COP28 to “move away from non-renewable energy sources.”

That commitment had no a schedule or details on the way it could be realized, and even though it was passed by all, several countries have since attempted to disavow the promise. Efforts last year to expand on its practical meaning were stymied by opposition from petrostates at another UN summit.

Consequently, there was no reference of the shift away from carbon fuels in the outcome of COP29.

Because of this, Brazil has been cautious of calls by some nations to place the phaseout on the agenda for COP30. But Silva has worked hard behind the scenes to ensure the topic could be talked about at the summit apart from the official program.

She convinced the nation's president, and he made mention repeatedly to the need to “move away from dependence on traditional energy” at the global leaders' meeting that preceded COP30, and at the opening of the summit.

“The issue is something that we know at some point had to be raised, because it is the sole way to address the issue from the source,” Marina Silva said. “We recognise that it is challenging, and we must not sell false hopes. Bringing up the subject is brave, and I hope [to see] this bravery from all, from producers and consumers.”

The nation had not started the push for a transition, the minister said, because that had been done at COP28. Rather, it was allowing the talks to occur in line with what some nations wished. “We understand these topics are sensitive. We will provide the opportunity to discuss it,” the minister added.

There is not enough time at the summit to draw up a detailed plan, a task the minister said could take a number of years because many nations faced complicated issues around dependence on fossil fuels, or aimed to use the proceeds from exporting oil and gas to finance their economic growth.

“Brazil raises the topic, because it is both a producing nation and consumer,” the minister noted. “But the nation is unique, because it, if it wants to, does not have to rely on non-renewables. We have to recognise that there are certain nations that rely on carbon energy in their economies and lack easy alternatives, and others where oil and gas are the foundation of their economic structure.

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

If the proposal receives enough support, the summit could establish a forum in which the process of creating a roadmap to the transition could start.

This process would require discussions with all participating nations to the UN framework convention on climate change and criteria for how the initiative would proceed, Silva explained. “After we have standards, a management framework can be developed; once we have a plan, and create safeguards to be able to establish trust in the system, I believe that with these elements we can turn positive concepts into steps that are clearer, and more concrete.”

It is uncertain that a suggestion to begin drawing up a roadmap would win approval at the conference, even if it may not need the formal consent of the summit, which proceeds by unanimous agreement and can be disrupted by particular groups. COP analysts have indicated they believe there could be backing for such a proposal from about 60 countries, but there are believed to be at least 40 opposed. A total of 195 countries represented at the talks.

“In spite of being the root cause of global warming, fossil fuels are about the most contentious topic there is within the international climate talks, so to see a chunky group of nations publicly backing a path to realizing worldwide transition is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

“Put simply, there’s no path to a world where temperature rise stays below 1.5C in which nations aren’t able to discuss fossil fuel phaseout.”

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

Discussions continued on Saturday on four outstanding issues that have not yet been incorporated into the formal schedule: commerce, openness, finance and how to tackle the shortfall between the carbon reduction nations have proposed and those needed to hold to the 1.5C warming limit.

The summit chair pledged a “note” that would address these matters, after discussions – which have been underway since Monday – were inconclusive. He called on nations to embrace the “mutirão” attitude, meaning one of cooperation and positive dialogue.

Work on other substantive issues – such as adjustment to the impacts of the climate crisis, the just transition for those impacted by the move to a low-carbon economic system and how to build institutional capacity in developing countries – carried on productively, the host said.

The host nation's lead representative said the technical phase of the COP proceedings was nearing the end, and the high-level phase – when ministers who have the power to change their nations' positions arrive – was beginning.