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The environment minister, Marina Silva, has urged all nations to show the courage needed to address the necessity of a global transition away from fossil fuels, labeling the creation of a roadmap as an “moral” response to the climate crisis.

She stressed, however, that participation in this endeavor would be voluntary and “independently decided” for interested nations.

The topic stands as one of the most contentious subjects at the COP30 in Brazil, with countries split over if and how such a strategy can be discussed. Hosting the event, Brazil has maintained a balanced stance on what can be placed on the formal schedule.

The official expressed approval for the possibility of a roadmap, without explicitly pledging the country to it. She remarked: “When we have a terrain that is very challenging, it is good that we have a map. But the guide does not force us to proceed, or to climb.”

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

Scores of nations gathered in Belém for the UN climate summit, which is starting its second week, are aiming to determine how a worldwide phaseout of fossil fuels could work. They hope to advance a historic agreement made two years ago at COP28 to “transition away from fossil fuels.”

The commitment had no a schedule or specifics on the way it could be achieved, and even though it was passed by all, some countries have since tried to disavow the promise. Efforts last year to elaborate on its practical meaning were stymied by resistance from oil-dependent nations at COP29.

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

For these reasons, the host has been cautious of calls by some nations to include the transition on the agenda for the current summit. But Silva has strived in private to make sure the topic could be discussed at the conference apart from the official program.

She convinced Brazil’s president, and he made public reference three times to the need to “shift from dependence on traditional energy” at the summit of world leaders that preceded COP30, and at the opening of the summit.

“The issue is something that we understand at some point had to be raised, because it is the sole way to address the problem from the root,” the minister explained. “We recognise that it is challenging, and we must not offer unrealistic expectations. Bringing up the topic is courageous, and I wish [to see] this bravery from all, from producing nations and consumers.”

The nation had not started the call for a transition, she clarified, because that had been initiated at COP28. Instead, it was allowing the discussions to take place in accordance with what some countries wished. “We know these topics are sensitive. We will provide the chance to discuss it,” she said.

Time is insufficient at COP30 to create a roadmap, a task the minister said could take several years because numerous nations faced complicated issues around dependence on fossil fuels, or wanted to use the revenue from selling fossil fuels to finance their development.

“Brazil raises the subject, because Brazil is simultaneously a producing nation and user,” the minister said. “But the nation is unique, because it, if it chooses to, does not have to rely on fossil fuels. We have to recognise that there are certain nations that depend on carbon energy in their economic systems and don’t have easy alternatives, and others where fossil fuels are the basis of their economic structure.

“To be just is to be just to all, but the essential, basic fairness is to avoid being unfair to the planet, because it is our shared home.”

If the pledge gains sufficient backing, COP30 could set up a platform in which the process of creating a strategy to the transition could begin.

This endeavor would involve discussions with all signatory countries to the UN framework convention on climate change and criteria for how the process would unfold, Silva said. “After we have standards, a management framework can be drawn up; after we have a strategy, and create protections to be able to establish trust in the process, I am confident that with these elements we can transform good ideas into steps that are clearer, and more tangible.”

There is no guarantee that a proposal to start drawing up a roadmap would win approval at the conference, although it may not need the formal consent of the summit, which operates by consensus and can be hijacked by particular groups. COP analysts have indicated they think there could be support for such a proposal from about 60 countries, but there are believed to be at least forty against. There are one hundred ninety-five nations participating at the talks.

“Despite being the primary source of climate change, carbon-based energy are about the most divisive subject there is within the UN negotiations, so to see a sizable coalition of countries publicly backing a route to realizing worldwide phaseout is in itself highly significant.”

“In simple terms, there’s no path to a world where warming remains below 1.5 degrees in which nations cannot to talk about ending fossil fuel use.”

“We require this wording for real in this conversation. It’s quite stupid that we discuss everything but that when the main issue are the real challenge.”

Discussions carried on on Saturday on four outstanding topics that have not yet been incorporated into the official schedule: commerce, openness, funding and how to address the shortfall between the carbon reduction countries have planned and those needed to keep to the 1.5C temperature limit.

The COP30 president promised a “document” that would address these issues, after discussions – which have been going on since Monday – were inconclusive. He called on nations to adopt the “mutirão” attitude, referring to one of cooperation and constructive discussion.

Work on additional substantive issues – including adjustment to the effects of the climate emergency, the fair shift for those impacted by the transition to a green economy and how to build institutional capacity in developing countries – proceeded constructively, the host reported.

The host nation's lead representative stated the detailed phase of the COP proceedings was nearing the end, and the high-level phase – when ministers who have the authority to change their countries’ stances join – was starting.