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The climate chief, the minister, has called on all nations to demonstrate the courage needed to address the imperative of a global fossil fuel phaseout, labeling the creation of a detailed plan as an “moral” answer to the global warming emergency.

She stressed, however, that participation in this endeavor would be voluntary and “independently decided” for willing governments.

The topic stands as one of the most contentious matters at the COP30 in the host country, with nations divided over whether and how such a strategy can be discussed. As the host, the nation has adopted a carefully neutral position on what can be placed on the formal schedule.

Silva expressed approval for the possibility of a roadmap, though not directly committing the country to it. She stated: “In times we have a terrain that is quite grim, it is helpful that we have a map. But the guide does not force us to travel, or to advance.”

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

Scores of countries gathered in Belém for the UN climate summit, which is starting its next phase, are aiming to determine how a global phaseout of fossil fuels could be implemented. They hope to build on a historic resolution reached two years ago at a previous UN summit to “move away from non-renewable energy sources.”

The commitment had no a schedule or specifics on how it could be achieved, and although it was adopted unanimously, some countries have since attempted to disavow the pledge. Attempts last year to expand on its practical meaning were stymied by opposition from petrostates at another UN summit.

As a result, there was no mention of the transition away from carbon fuels in the outcome of COP29.

Because of this, Brazil has been cautious of demands by some countries to include the phaseout on the agenda for COP30. But the minister has strived in private to ensure the topic could be talked about at the summit apart from the official agenda.

She convinced Brazil’s president, who gave public reference three times to the need to “move away from reliance on fossil fuels” at the global leaders' meeting that preceded the conference, and at the start of the event.

“The issue is a matter that we know at some point had to be put forward, because it is the only way to face the problem from the source,” Marina Silva said. “We recognise that it is challenging, and we must not sell unrealistic expectations. Raising the topic is courageous, and I wish [to see] this courage from everyone, from producing nations and consumers.”

The nation had not started the push for a transition, the minister said, because that had been done at the earlier summit. Rather, it was allowing the discussions to occur in accordance with what certain countries wished. “We understand these topics are delicate. We will provide the opportunity to talk about it,” the minister said.

There is not enough time at the summit to draw up a roadmap, a task the minister called could take a number of years because many nations confronted complicated challenges around reliance on carbon-based energy, or wanted to use the proceeds from selling fossil fuels to finance their development.

“Brazil brings up the topic, because Brazil is simultaneously a producer and consumer,” the minister noted. “But the nation is unique, because it, if it wants to, need not depend on fossil fuels. We have to understand that there are some that depend on fossil fuels in their economies and don’t have simple alternatives, and some where fossil fuels are the basis of their economic structure.

“To be just is to be just to everyone, but the fundamental, primordial justice is not being unfair to the Earth, because it is our home.”

If the pledge receives sufficient backing, the summit could set up a forum in which the process of creating a roadmap to the transition could begin.

This endeavor would involve discussions with every participating nations to the UN framework convention on climate change and criteria for how the process would proceed, Silva said. “Once we have criteria, a governance structure can be developed; after we have a strategy, and create protections to be able to establish trust in the system, I am confident that with these components we can transform positive concepts into actions that are more defined, and more tangible.”

There is no guarantee that a suggestion to begin developing a plan would be accepted at the conference, even if it may not need the formal approval of the conference, which operates by consensus and can be hijacked by particular groups. COP experts have suggested they believe there could be backing for such a idea from about 60 nations, but there are believed to be at least forty opposed. A total of one hundred ninety-five nations participating at the negotiations.

“In spite of being the root cause of climate change, carbon-based energy are about the most divisive subject there is within the UN negotiations, so to see a chunky coalition of countries openly backing a route to realizing global transition is in itself highly significant.”

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

“We require this wording for real in this conversation. It’s highly illogical that we discuss everything but that when fossil fuels are the real challenge.”

Discussions carried on on the weekend on several outstanding issues that have not yet been incorporated into the formal schedule: trade, openness, funding and how to address the shortfall between the carbon reduction countries have planned and those required to keep to the 1.5C temperature target.

The summit chair pledged a “document” that would address these issues, after consultations – which have been going on since Monday – were inconclusive. He called on countries to adopt the “mutirão” spirit, meaning one of cooperation and constructive discussion.

Progress on additional key issues – including adaptation to the impacts of the climate emergency, the just transition for those affected by the transition to a low-carbon economy and how to strengthen institutional capacity in developing countries – carried on constructively, the host reported.

The host nation's lead representative said the technical part of the COP process was approaching the end, and the high-level stage – when ministers who have the power to change their nations' stances join – was starting.