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Brazil’s climate chief, Marina Silva, has urged every country to demonstrate the bravery needed to confront the imperative of a worldwide transition away from fossil fuels, labeling the creation of a roadmap as an “ethical” answer to the climate crisis.

She emphasized, though, that participation in this process would be voluntary and “self-determined” for interested nations.

This issue remains one of the most debated subjects at the UN climate summit in the host country, with nations divided over if and in what way such a roadmap can be addressed. As the host, Brazil has adopted a balanced stance on what can be included on the official agenda.

The official voiced support for the potential of a roadmap, without directly committing the country to it. The minister stated: “In times we have a situation that is quite grim, it is good that we have a map. But the guide does not force us to proceed, or to advance.”

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

Scores of nations gathered in the host city for the global climate conference, which is entering its second week, are seeking to establish how a worldwide transition of oil, gas, and coal could be implemented. These nations aim to build on a landmark agreement reached two years ago at COP28 to “move away from non-renewable energy sources.”

That commitment lacked a timetable or specifics on the way it could be achieved, and even though it was passed by all, some countries have later tried to disavow the pledge. Efforts last year to elaborate on its real-world implications were blocked by resistance from petrostates at COP29.

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

Because of this, Brazil has been cautious of demands by certain nations to include the phaseout on the schedule for the current summit. But Silva has worked hard behind the scenes to ensure the pledge could be talked about at the summit outside the official agenda.

The minister won over Brazil’s leader, and he made mention repeatedly to the need to “shift from reliance on fossil fuels” at the global leaders' meeting that came before the conference, and at the opening of the event.

“This is something that we know at some point had to be put forward, because it is the sole way to address the problem from the source,” Marina Silva said. “We acknowledge that it is not easy, and we must not sell false hopes. Bringing up the topic is brave, and I wish [to see] this courage from all, from producers and using countries.”

Brazil had not initiated the push for a phaseout, the minister clarified, because that had been initiated at COP28. Rather, it was enabling the discussions to take place in line with what some countries wished. “We understand these topics are sensitive. We will provide the chance to talk about it,” the minister added.

There is not enough time at the summit to draw up a detailed plan, a task Silva said could take several years because numerous nations confronted complex issues around reliance on fossil fuels, or aimed to use the revenue from selling fossil fuels to fund their development.

“The country brings up the topic, because it is simultaneously a producing nation and consumer,” the minister noted. “But the nation is different, because it, if it chooses to, need not depend on non-renewables. We have to understand that there are some that rely on carbon energy in their economies and lack easy solutions, and others where oil and gas are the basis of their economy.

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

If the pledge receives sufficient support, COP30 could set up a forum in which the work of creating a strategy to the transition could start.

This process would involve dialogue with every participating nations to the UN framework convention on climate change and guidelines for how the process would unfold, Silva explained. “After we have criteria, a management framework can be drawn up; after we have a strategy, and establish protections to be able to establish confidence in the process, I believe that with these components we can turn good ideas into actions that are more defined, and more concrete.”

It is uncertain that a proposal to begin developing a roadmap would be accepted at the conference, although it does not require the formal approval of the summit, which operates by unanimous agreement and can be hijacked by particular groups. Climate experts have indicated they think there could be backing for such a idea from about sixty countries, but there are believed to be at least forty opposed. A total of one hundred ninety-five nations represented at the negotiations.

“In spite of being the root cause of global warming, fossil fuels are about the most divisive subject there is within the UN negotiations, so to see a chunky group of countries openly backing a route to achieving global phaseout is in itself highly significant.”

“Put simply, there’s no route to a planet where warming stays below 1.5 degrees in which countries aren’t able to talk about fossil fuel phaseout.”

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

Negotiations continued on Saturday on several unresolved topics that have still not been included into the official agenda: commerce, transparency, funding and how to tackle the gap between the carbon reduction nations have proposed and those required to hold to the 1.5-degree warming limit.

A COP30 chair pledged a “document” that would address these matters, after consultations – which have been underway since Monday – were inconclusive. The official called on nations to embrace the “mutirão” spirit, referring to one of cooperation and constructive dialogue.

Progress on additional substantive issues – including adaptation to the impacts of the climate emergency, the just transition for those affected by the move to a green economic system and how to build governance capabilities in developing countries – carried on productively, the presidency reported.

The host nation's chief negotiator stated the detailed part of the COP proceedings was nearing the end, and the political phase – when government leaders who have the power to alter their countries’ stances join – was beginning.