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

The minister stressed, though, that involvement in this endeavor would be optional and “self-determined” for willing governments.

The topic remains 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 addressed. Hosting the event, the nation has maintained a carefully neutral stance on what can be included on the formal schedule.

The official expressed support for the possibility of a plan, without explicitly pledging Brazil to it. She stated: “In times we have a situation that is very challenging, it is helpful that we have a guide. But the map does not compel us to travel, or to advance.”

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

Dozens of nations gathered in Belém for the global climate conference, which is entering its second week, are aiming to determine how a worldwide transition of oil, gas, and coal could work. These nations hope to advance a landmark resolution made two years ago at COP28 to “move away from fossil fuels.”

That pledge had no a schedule or specifics on how it could be realized, and even though it was adopted by all, some nations have later tried to back away from the promise. Efforts last year to expand on its real-world implications were stymied by opposition from petrostates at another UN summit.

As a result, there was no reference of the transition away from fossil fuels in the final agreement of that conference.

For these reasons, Brazil has been wary of demands by certain countries to include the transition on the schedule for the current summit. But Silva has strived in private to ensure the pledge could be discussed at the conference apart from the formal program.

She convinced the nation's president, and he gave public reference three times to the need to “shift from reliance on traditional energy” at the global leaders' meeting that came before the conference, and at the start of the summit.

“The issue is something that we understand at some point had to be raised, because it is the sole way to face the problem from the root,” Marina Silva explained. “We acknowledge that it is not easy, and we cannot offer unrealistic expectations. Bringing up the subject is brave, and I hope [to see] this bravery from everyone, from producers and consumers.”

The nation had not initiated the call for a transition, the minister clarified, because that had been done at the earlier summit. Rather, it was enabling the discussions to occur in line with what certain countries wished. “We understand these subjects are sensitive. We will provide the opportunity to talk about it,” she said.

Time is insufficient at COP30 to draw up a roadmap, a process the minister called could take several years because many nations faced complex issues around dependence on fossil fuels, or wanted to use the proceeds from selling oil and gas to fund their economic growth.

“The country brings up the topic, because it is simultaneously a producer and user,” she said. “But Brazil is unique, because Brazil, if it wants to, need not depend on fossil fuels. We have to understand that there are certain nations that depend on fossil fuels in their economic systems and lack simple solutions, and others where oil and gas are the basis of their economic structure.

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

If the pledge receives sufficient support, 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 dialogue with all signatory countries to the UN climate treaty and guidelines for how the process would unfold, Silva explained. “Once we have standards, a governance structure can be developed; once we have a plan, and establish protections to be able to establish confidence in the system, I believe that with these components we can turn positive concepts into actions that are clearer, and more tangible.”

There is no guarantee that a proposal to begin developing a plan would win approval at COP30, even if it may not need the official consent of the conference, which operates by unanimous agreement and can be disrupted by particular groups. Climate analysts have indicated they believe there could be backing for such a proposal from about sixty nations, but there are thought to be at least 40 opposed. There are 195 countries represented at the talks.

“Despite being the root cause of climate change, fossil fuels are about the most divisive subject there is within the UN negotiations, so to see a sizable coalition of nations openly backing a route to realizing global phaseout is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

“In simple terms, there’s no route to a world where warming stays below 1.5C in which nations aren’t able to talk about ending fossil fuel use.”

“We require this wording for actual in this discussion. It’s quite stupid that we discuss everything but that when fossil fuels are the actual problem.”

Discussions continued on Saturday on four outstanding topics that have not yet been included into the formal schedule: commerce, transparency, funding and how to tackle the gap between the emissions cuts countries have proposed and those required to hold to the 1.5C warming limit.

A COP30 chair promised a “note” that would cover these issues, after discussions – which have been underway since the start of the week – were inconclusive. He called on countries to adopt the “mutirão” attitude, referring to one of collaboration and constructive dialogue.

Progress on other substantive issues – such as adaptation to the impacts of the climate emergency, the fair shift for those impacted by the move to a green economic system and how to strengthen governance capabilities in developing countries – proceeded constructively, the host reported.

Brazil’s lead representative stated the detailed phase of the summit process was nearing the end, and the political phase – when government leaders who have the power to change their nations' stances join – was beginning.