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The environment minister, the minister, has urged all nations to demonstrate the courage needed to address the necessity of a global transition away from fossil fuels, describing the creation of a roadmap as an “moral” response to the global warming emergency.

She emphasized, though, that involvement in this endeavor would be voluntary and “independently decided” for willing governments.

This issue remains one of the most contentious subjects at the UN climate summit in the host country, with nations divided over whether and how such a strategy can be addressed. As the host, the nation has maintained a balanced stance on which items can be placed on the official agenda.

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

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

Dozens of countries meeting in the host city for the UN climate summit, which is entering its second week, are aiming to establish how a global phaseout of fossil fuels could be implemented. They hope to build on a landmark resolution reached two years ago at a previous UN summit to “transition away from non-renewable energy sources.”

That pledge lacked a timetable or details on how it could be achieved, and although it was adopted unanimously, several countries have since attempted to disavow the promise. Efforts last year to expand on its real-world implications were stymied by resistance from oil-dependent nations at another UN summit.

Consequently, there was no mention of the transition away from fossil fuels in the final agreement of that conference.

For these reasons, Brazil has been wary of demands by some countries to place the transition on the schedule for COP30. But the minister has worked hard behind the scenes to ensure the pledge could be talked about at the summit apart from the official agenda.

She convinced the nation's leader, and he gave mention three times to the need to “move away from dependence on traditional energy” at the summit of world leaders that came before the conference, and at the start of the event.

“The issue is a matter that we understand at a certain time had to be put forward, because it is the sole way to face the problem from the source,” Marina Silva explained. “We recognise that it is challenging, and we must not sell unrealistic expectations. Raising the subject is courageous, and I wish [to see] this bravery from all, from producing nations and consumers.”

The nation had not initiated the call for a phaseout, she clarified, because that had been initiated at the earlier summit. Instead, it was allowing the discussions to take place in accordance with what certain countries desired. “We know these topics are sensitive. We will give the chance to discuss it,” she said.

There is not enough time at COP30 to create a detailed plan, a process the minister said could take a number of years because many nations faced complex challenges around reliance on carbon-based energy, or wanted to use the revenue from selling oil and gas to fund their economic growth.

“Brazil brings up the subject, because Brazil is simultaneously a producing nation and consumer,” she noted. “But Brazil is unique, because it, if it chooses to, does not have to depend on non-renewables. We have to understand that there are some that depend on carbon energy in their economies and lack easy alternatives, and some where oil and gas are the foundation of their economic structure.

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

If the pledge gains enough backing, the summit could set up a forum in which the process of drawing up a roadmap to the transition could start.

The process would involve discussions with every signatory countries to the UN climate treaty and criteria for how the process would proceed, Silva said. “After we have standards, a management framework can be drawn up; once we have a strategy, and establish protections to be able to build confidence in the system, I am confident that with these components we can transform good ideas into actions that are more defined, and more tangible.”

There is no guarantee that a suggestion to start drawing up a plan would win approval at the conference, even if it does not require the formal approval of the conference, which proceeds by unanimous agreement and can be disrupted by special interests. Climate experts have suggested they believe there could be backing for such a idea from about 60 nations, but there are thought to be at least forty opposed. A total of 195 countries participating at the talks.

“In spite of being the primary source of global warming, carbon-based energy are about the most divisive subject there is within the international climate talks, so to see a chunky coalition of countries publicly backing a route to realizing global phaseout is in itself highly significant.”

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

“We require this language for real in this discussion. It’s quite stupid that we discuss all topics but that when fossil fuels are the actual challenge.”

Negotiations carried on on the weekend on several unresolved issues that have still not been included into the official schedule: commerce, transparency, funding and how to address the shortfall between the emissions cuts nations have planned and those required to hold to the 1.5-degree temperature limit.

The summit chair pledged a “document” that would address these issues, after discussions – which have been underway since Monday – were inconclusive. He called on nations to embrace the “mutirão” spirit, meaning one of collaboration and constructive dialogue.

Progress on additional substantive issues – such as adaptation to the effects of the climate emergency, the just transition for those impacted by the transition to a green economic system and how to strengthen institutional capacity in less developed nations – proceeded constructively, the presidency reported.

Brazil’s chief negotiator stated the detailed phase of the summit proceedings was nearing completion, and the political stage – when ministers who have the power to alter their countries’ stances arrive – was beginning.