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Brazil’s environment minister, the minister, has called on all nations to show the courage needed to address the necessity of a worldwide transition away from fossil fuels, labeling the development of a detailed plan as an “moral” response to the global warming emergency.

She emphasized, however, that involvement in this process would be voluntary and “self-determined” for willing nations.

The topic stands as one of the most debated subjects at the UN climate summit in the host country, with nations divided over if and how such a strategy can be addressed. As the host, Brazil has maintained a carefully neutral position on which items can be placed on the formal agenda.

Silva voiced support for the possibility of a roadmap, without directly committing the country to it. She stated: “In times we have a situation that is very challenging, it is helpful that we have a map. But the map does not compel us to travel, or to advance.”

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

Dozens of countries gathered in Belém for the global climate conference, which is starting its second week, are seeking to establish how a worldwide transition of fossil fuels could work. They hope to advance a landmark resolution reached two years ago at COP28 to “move away from fossil fuels.”

The commitment lacked a timetable or specifics on how it could be achieved, and although it was passed unanimously, some countries have since tried to disavow the pledge. Attempts last year to elaborate on its real-world implications were blocked by opposition from petrostates at another UN summit.

Consequently, there was no reference of the transition away from carbon fuels in the outcome of COP29.

For these reasons, the host has been wary of demands by certain countries to include the phaseout on the agenda for the current summit. But Silva has worked hard behind the scenes to make sure the topic could be discussed at the summit apart from the official program.

The minister convinced Brazil’s president, and he made mention repeatedly to the need to “shift from reliance on traditional energy” at the global leaders' meeting that preceded COP30, and at the opening of the event.

“This is something that we know at a certain time had to be raised, because it is the only way to face the issue from the source,” Marina Silva said. “We recognise that it is not easy, and we must not offer unrealistic expectations. Raising the subject is brave, and I hope [to see] this courage from everyone, from producers and consumers.”

The nation had not initiated the push for a transition, the minister clarified, because that had been done at the earlier summit. Rather, it was enabling the talks to occur in accordance with what some countries wished. “We understand these topics are sensitive. We will give the opportunity to discuss it,” the minister said.

There is not enough time at the summit to create a detailed plan, a process Silva said could take a number of years because many countries faced complex challenges around reliance on carbon-based energy, or aimed to use the proceeds from selling fossil fuels to finance their development.

“Brazil raises the subject, because it is simultaneously a producer and user,” the minister said. “But the nation 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 rely on fossil fuels in their economic systems and don’t have simple alternatives, and others where oil and gas are the basis of their economic structure.

“To be fair is to be fair to everyone, but the essential, basic fairness is to avoid being unjust to the planet, because it is our home.”

If the proposal receives enough backing, the summit could set up a platform in which the work of creating a roadmap to the transition could begin.

This process would require dialogue with all participating nations to the UN climate treaty and guidelines for how the process would proceed, the minister explained. “Once we have criteria, a governance structure can be developed; once we have a plan, and create safeguards to be able to establish trust in the process, I believe that with these components we can turn positive concepts into steps that are clearer, and more concrete.”

There is no guarantee that a proposal to start developing a roadmap would win approval at COP30, although it may not need the official consent of the conference, which proceeds by unanimous agreement and can be hijacked by special interests. COP experts have suggested they believe there could be support for such a idea from about sixty countries, but there are thought to be at least forty opposed. A total of 195 nations represented at the negotiations.

“In spite of being the root cause of global warming, fossil fuels are about the most divisive subject there is within the UN negotiations, so to see a chunky group of nations openly backing a route to achieving global phaseout is in itself highly significant.”

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

“We need this wording for real in this conversation. It’s highly illogical that we discuss all topics but that when fossil fuels are the actual problem.”

Negotiations continued on the weekend on four outstanding topics that have not yet been included into the official schedule: trade, transparency, finance and how to address the gap between the carbon reduction nations have proposed and those needed to keep to the 1.5C temperature target.

A summit president promised a “document” that would cover these matters, after discussions – which have been going on since the start of the week – were inconclusive. The official urged countries to embrace the “mutirão” attitude, meaning one of collaboration and positive discussion.

Progress on other key topics – including adaptation to the effects of the climate crisis, the just transition for those affected by the transition to a green economy and how to strengthen institutional capacity in developing countries – carried on productively, the host reported.

Brazil’s chief negotiator said the technical phase of the summit proceedings was approaching completion, and the political stage – when ministers who have the authority to alter their countries’ positions join – was starting.