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Brazil’s environment minister, Marina Silva, has urged every country to show the bravery needed to confront the necessity of a global fossil fuel phaseout, labeling the development of a roadmap as an “ethical” response to the climate crisis.

She emphasized, though, that involvement in this endeavor would be voluntary and “self-determined” for willing governments.

This issue stands as one of the most debated matters at the UN climate summit in Brazil, with countries divided over whether and in what way such a strategy can be addressed. As the host, Brazil has adopted a carefully neutral position on what can be placed on the formal agenda.

Silva voiced support for the potential of a plan, without directly pledging Brazil to it. She stated: “When we have a situation that is quite grim, it is good that we have a map. But the map does not compel us to proceed, or to advance.”

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

Dozens of countries gathered in the host city for the UN climate summit, which is starting its next phase, are aiming to determine how a worldwide transition of oil, gas, and coal could be implemented. They hope to advance a landmark agreement reached two years ago at a previous UN summit to “transition away from fossil fuels.”

That commitment had no a timetable or specifics on how it could be realized, and although it was passed unanimously, some nations have later tried to back away from the promise. Efforts last year to expand on its real-world implications were blocked by opposition from oil-dependent nations at another UN summit.

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

For these reasons, Brazil has been cautious of calls by certain nations to place the transition on the agenda for COP30. But Silva has strived behind the scenes to ensure the topic could be talked about at the conference outside the formal agenda.

The minister convinced the nation's leader, and he made public reference 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 start of the summit.

“This is a matter that we know at some point had to be put forward, because it is the only way to face the problem from the source,” the minister said. “We recognise that it is challenging, and we cannot sell false hopes. Raising the topic is brave, and I hope [to see] this bravery from all, from producers and consumers.”

The nation had not started the call for a phaseout, the minister clarified, because that had been initiated at the earlier summit. Rather, it was allowing the discussions to occur in line with what certain countries wished. “We know these topics are delicate. We will provide the opportunity to talk about it,” she added.

There is not enough time at COP30 to create a detailed plan, a task the minister called could take several years because numerous countries confronted complicated issues around dependence on carbon-based energy, or aimed to use the revenue from selling oil and gas to finance their economic growth.

“Brazil brings up the topic, because Brazil is both a producing nation and user,” she noted. “But the nation is unique, because Brazil, if it chooses to, need not rely on non-renewables. We have to understand that there are some that rely on carbon energy in their economic systems and lack simple solutions, and others where fossil fuels are the basis of their economy.

“To be fair is to be fair to everyone, but the fundamental, basic fairness is to avoid being unfair to the planet, because it is our home.”

Should the pledge gains enough backing, COP30 could establish a platform in which the work of creating a roadmap to the transition could begin.

The process would involve discussions with all signatory countries to the UN climate treaty and guidelines for how the process would proceed, the minister explained. “After we have criteria, a management framework can be drawn up; once we have a plan, and establish protections to be able to build trust in the system, I believe that with these elements we can transform positive concepts into steps that are more defined, and more tangible.”

There is no guarantee that a suggestion to begin developing a roadmap would win approval at COP30, even if it does not require the official approval of the summit, which operates by consensus and can be hijacked by particular groups. Climate analysts have indicated they believe there could be backing for such a proposal from about sixty nations, but there are thought to be at least 40 opposed. There are 195 nations represented at the talks.

“In spite of being the root cause of climate change, carbon-based energy are about the most contentious topic there is within the UN negotiations, so to see a sizable group of nations openly supporting a path to realizing worldwide phaseout is in itself highly significant.”

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

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

Negotiations continued on the weekend on several outstanding issues that have still not been included into the official agenda: trade, transparency, funding and how to address the gap between the carbon reduction countries have planned and those needed to keep to the 1.5C warming limit.

The COP30 president promised a “note” that would address 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.

Work on additional substantive topics – including adaptation to the impacts of the climate crisis, the fair shift for those affected by the move to a green economic system and how to build governance capabilities in developing countries – carried on productively, the host reported.

Brazil’s chief negotiator stated the detailed phase of the summit proceedings was nearing the end, and the high-level phase – when ministers who have the power to change their nations' stances arrive – was beginning.