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The climate chief, Marina Silva, has called on all nations to demonstrate the courage needed to address the necessity of a worldwide transition away from fossil fuels, describing the development of a roadmap as an “moral” response to the climate crisis.

She stressed, however, that involvement in this endeavor would be voluntary and “self-determined” for interested governments.

The topic stands as one of the most contentious matters at the UN climate summit in Brazil, with countries divided over whether and how such a strategy can be discussed. Hosting the event, Brazil has maintained a carefully neutral stance on which items can be placed on the formal agenda.

The official expressed support for the possibility of a roadmap, without explicitly pledging Brazil to it. The minister stated: “When we have a terrain that is very challenging, it is helpful that we have a map. But the guide does not force us to travel, or to advance.”

Speaking further, the minister noted: “The map is an response to our scientific understanding [of the climate emergency]. It is an ethical response.”

Scores of countries meeting in Belém for the UN climate summit, which is starting its second week, are aiming to determine how a worldwide phaseout of oil, gas, and coal could work. They hope to advance a historic agreement reached two years ago at a previous UN summit to “move away from non-renewable energy sources.”

The commitment lacked a timetable or details on the way it could be realized, and even though it was passed unanimously, some nations have since attempted to disavow the pledge. Attempts last year to expand on its practical implications were blocked by opposition from petrostates at COP29.

As a result, there was no reference of the shift away from fossil fuels in the outcome of that conference.

Because of this, the host has been wary of demands by certain nations to place the transition on the schedule for COP30. But the minister has worked hard behind the scenes to make sure the pledge could be discussed at the conference outside the formal program.

The minister convinced the nation's president, who gave public reference repeatedly to the need to “move away from dependence on fossil fuels” at the summit of world leaders that came before COP30, and at the start of the event.

“This is a matter that we know at a certain time had to be raised, because it is the sole way to face the issue from the root,” Marina Silva said. “We recognise that it is not easy, and we cannot offer unrealistic expectations. Bringing up the topic is courageous, and I hope [to see] this bravery from all, from producers and consumers.”

Brazil had not started the push for a phaseout, she clarified, because that had been initiated at COP28. Instead, it was enabling the talks to take place in accordance with what some countries desired. “We understand these topics are sensitive. We will provide the opportunity to talk about it,” the minister added.

There is not enough time at the summit to draw up a detailed plan, a process the minister called could take a number of years because numerous nations faced complex challenges around reliance on fossil fuels, or aimed to use the proceeds from selling oil and gas to fund their development.

“The country raises the topic, because it is simultaneously a producer and user,” the minister said. “But the nation is unique, because Brazil, if it wants to, does not have to rely on non-renewables. We have to understand that there are some that depend on carbon energy in their economic systems and lack simple alternatives, and others where fossil fuels are the basis of their economy.

“To be just is to be just to all, but the essential, basic fairness is not being unjust to the Earth, because it is our home.”

Should the proposal receives enough backing, COP30 could set up a platform in which the process of creating a strategy to the phaseout could start.

This endeavor would involve dialogue with every participating countries to the UN framework convention on climate change and criteria for how the initiative would proceed, the minister said. “After we have criteria, a management framework can be drawn up; after we have a plan, and create protections to be able to establish confidence in the system, I believe that with these components we can transform good ideas into actions that are clearer, and more tangible.”

There is no guarantee that a suggestion to start drawing up a roadmap would win approval at COP30, although it does not require the official consent of the summit, which proceeds by consensus and can be disrupted by particular groups. Climate analysts have indicated they think there could be backing for such a proposal from about 60 countries, but there are thought to be at least forty opposed. There are one hundred ninety-five nations participating at the talks.

“In spite of being the primary source of climate change, carbon-based energy 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 achieving worldwide phaseout is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

“Put simply, there’s no route to a planet where temperature rise stays below 1.5 degrees in which countries aren’t able to discuss ending fossil fuel use.”

“We require this wording for real in this discussion. It’s highly illogical that we talk about everything but then when the main issue are the real problem.”

Negotiations continued on Saturday on several unresolved issues that have still not been included into the formal schedule: trade, openness, funding and how to tackle the gap between the emissions cuts countries have proposed and those needed to keep to the 1.5C warming target.

A summit chair promised a “note” that would address these matters, after consultations – which have been going on since Monday – were inconclusive. He called on nations to adopt the “mutirão” attitude, meaning one of cooperation and positive discussion.

Progress on other substantive topics – such as adjustment to the effects of the climate emergency, the fair shift for those impacted by the transition to a low-carbon economic system and how to build institutional capacity in less developed nations – proceeded productively, the presidency said.

The host nation's chief negotiator stated the detailed part of the summit proceedings was approaching completion, and the high-level phase – when government leaders who have the power to alter their nations' stances arrive – was starting.