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The environment minister, the minister, has called on every country to demonstrate the bravery needed to address the necessity of a worldwide transition away from fossil fuels, labeling the development of a roadmap as an “ethical” response to the global warming emergency.

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

This issue stands as one of the most contentious subjects at the COP30 in Brazil, with countries divided over whether and in what way such a strategy can be discussed. Hosting the event, Brazil has maintained a balanced position on which items can be included on the formal schedule.

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

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

Scores of nations gathered in Belém for the global climate conference, which is starting its next phase, are seeking to establish how a global phaseout of fossil fuels could work. These nations aim to build on a historic agreement reached two years ago at COP28 to “move away from fossil fuels.”

The commitment had no a schedule or details on the way it could be realized, and even though it was adopted unanimously, some countries have later tried to disavow the promise. Attempts last year to expand on its practical meaning were stymied by resistance from oil-dependent nations at another UN summit.

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

For these reasons, Brazil has been wary of calls by some nations to place the transition on the schedule for the current summit. But the minister has worked hard in private to make sure the pledge could be talked about at the conference outside the official program.

She won over Brazil’s president, and he gave mention three times to the need to “move away from dependence on fossil fuels” at the summit of world leaders that preceded the conference, and at the opening of the event.

“This is a matter that we know at a certain time had to be raised, because it is the only way to address the problem from the root,” the minister said. “We acknowledge that it is not easy, and we cannot offer false hopes. Bringing up the subject is brave, and I hope [to see] this courage from everyone, from producing nations and consumers.”

Brazil had not started the push for a phaseout, she clarified, because that had been done at the earlier summit. Rather, it was allowing the talks to occur in line with what certain countries desired. “We know these topics are sensitive. We will provide the opportunity to discuss it,” she added.

There is not enough time at COP30 to draw up a detailed plan, a process Silva called could take several years because many nations confronted complex challenges around reliance on carbon-based energy, or aimed to use the revenue from selling oil and gas to finance their economic growth.

“The country brings up the topic, because it is simultaneously a producing nation and user,” she said. “But the nation is different, because Brazil, if it wants to, does not have to depend on non-renewables. We have to understand that there are some that rely on fossil fuels in their economies and don’t have easy alternatives, and others where fossil fuels are the foundation of their economy.

“To be fair is to be fair to everyone, but the fundamental, basic fairness is not being unfair to the Earth, because it is our shared home.”

If the proposal receives enough backing, the summit could set up a platform in which the work of drawing up a strategy to the phaseout could start.

This endeavor would involve discussions with every participating nations to the UN climate treaty and criteria for how the process would unfold, the minister said. “After we have standards, a management framework can be developed; once we have a strategy, and create safeguards to be able to build confidence in the system, 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 suggestion to begin 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 disrupted by particular groups. COP experts have indicated they believe there could be backing for such a proposal from about sixty countries, but there are thought to be at least 40 against. A total of 195 countries participating at the negotiations.

“In spite of 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 group of countries openly backing a route to realizing global phaseout is in itself highly significant.”

“Put simply, there’s no route to a world where temperature rise stays below 1.5C in which countries cannot to talk about fossil fuel phaseout.”

“We require this wording for actual in this conversation. It’s highly illogical that we talk about all topics but then when the main issue are the actual problem.”

Negotiations continued on Saturday on several unresolved topics that have still not been incorporated into the official schedule: commerce, transparency, finance and how to tackle the shortfall between the emissions cuts countries have planned and those required to keep to the 1.5-degree warming limit.

A COP30 president pledged a “document” that would cover these matters, after consultations – which have been going on since Monday – were inconclusive. The official urged nations to embrace the “mutirão” attitude, meaning one of collaboration and constructive discussion.

Work on additional key issues – such as adjustment to the effects of the climate crisis, the fair shift for those impacted by the transition to a green economy and how to build institutional capacity in less developed nations – carried on productively, the presidency reported.

Brazil’s lead representative said the technical part of the COP process was approaching completion, and the political stage – when government leaders who have the power to change their nations' positions join – was starting.