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Brazil’s climate chief, Marina Silva, has called on all nations to show the bravery needed to confront the necessity of a worldwide transition away from fossil fuels, labeling the creation of a roadmap as an “ethical” answer to the global warming emergency.

The minister stressed, however, that involvement in this process would be optional and “independently decided” for interested nations.

This issue stands as one of the most contentious subjects at the UN climate summit in Brazil, with nations split over whether and how such a roadmap can be discussed. Hosting the event, Brazil has adopted a carefully neutral position on which items can be included on the formal agenda.

Silva voiced approval for the possibility of a roadmap, though not directly pledging Brazil to it. The minister 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 advance.”

Speaking further, she noted: “The roadmap is an answer to our scientific understanding [of the climate emergency]. It is an moral response.”

Dozens of nations meeting in the host city for the global climate conference, which is starting its second week, are aiming to determine how a global transition of oil, gas, and coal could work. They hope to advance a historic agreement reached two years ago at COP28 to “transition away from fossil fuels.”

That commitment lacked a timetable or specifics on the way it could be realized, and even though it was adopted by all, several countries have later attempted to disavow the pledge. Attempts 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 carbon fuels in the outcome of that conference.

For these reasons, Brazil has been cautious of demands by some nations to include the transition on the schedule for the current summit. But Silva has worked hard behind the scenes to make sure the pledge could be talked about at the summit outside the official program.

She won over Brazil’s leader, who gave public reference three times to the need to “shift from reliance on traditional energy” at the global leaders' meeting that preceded the conference, and at the start of the summit.

“The issue is something that we understand at a certain time had to be raised, because it is the only way to face the issue from the root,” the minister said. “We acknowledge that it is not easy, and we must not sell unrealistic expectations. Raising the topic is brave, and I wish [to see] this courage from all, from producers and using countries.”

Brazil had not started the push for a phaseout, the minister clarified, because that had been done at COP28. Instead, it was enabling the discussions to occur in accordance with what some nations desired. “We know these subjects are delicate. We will give the opportunity to talk about it,” the minister said.

There is not enough time at the summit to draw up a detailed plan, a task the minister said could take several years because numerous nations confronted complex issues around dependence on fossil fuels, or wanted to use the proceeds from exporting fossil fuels to finance their development.

“Brazil brings up the topic, because Brazil is simultaneously a producer and consumer,” the minister said. “But Brazil is different, because it, if it wants to, does not have to depend on non-renewables. We have to recognise that there are some that depend on carbon energy in their economic systems and lack easy alternatives, and some where oil and gas are the basis of their economy.

“To be just is to be just to everyone, but the essential, primordial justice is not being unjust to the planet, because it is our shared home.”

Should the proposal gains sufficient backing, COP30 could establish a platform in which the process of drawing up a strategy to the phaseout could begin.

This process would require dialogue with all signatory countries to the UN climate treaty and guidelines for how the initiative would unfold, the minister said. “Once we have criteria, a governance structure can be developed; after we have a strategy, and create safeguards to be able to establish confidence in the process, I believe that with these elements we can turn positive concepts into actions that are more defined, and more tangible.”

There is no guarantee that a suggestion to start drawing up a plan would be accepted at the conference, even if it may not need the formal consent of the conference, which proceeds by consensus and can be hijacked by special interests. Climate experts have indicated they think there could be backing for such a idea from about sixty nations, but there are thought to be at least forty opposed. There are 195 nations participating at the talks.

“In spite of being the root cause of climate change, fossil fuels are about the most contentious subject there is within the international climate talks, so to see a chunky group of nations publicly backing a path to realizing global phaseout is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

“In simple terms, there’s no route to a world where temperature rise remains below 1.5C in which nations cannot to talk about fossil fuel phaseout.”

“We need this wording for actual in this conversation. It’s quite stupid that we talk about all topics but that when fossil fuels are the real challenge.”

Discussions continued on the weekend on several outstanding topics that have not yet been included into the official agenda: trade, openness, finance and how to tackle the gap between the emissions cuts nations have proposed and those needed to hold to the 1.5C temperature target.

A summit chair pledged a “document” that would cover these issues, after consultations – which have been underway since Monday – were inconclusive. The official urged nations to adopt the “mutirão” attitude, meaning one of cooperation and positive dialogue.

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

The host nation's lead representative said the detailed phase of the COP process was approaching completion, and the political phase – when ministers who have the authority to change their nations' positions arrive – was beginning.