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The environment minister, the minister, has urged all nations to show the courage needed to address the imperative of a worldwide transition away from fossil fuels, labeling the creation of a roadmap as an “ethical” answer to the climate crisis.

The minister stressed, though, that participation in this process would be voluntary and “independently decided” for interested governments.

This issue stands as one of the most contentious subjects at the COP30 in the host country, with countries divided over whether and how such a roadmap can be addressed. Hosting the event, the nation has maintained a balanced position on which items can be placed on the official agenda.

Silva expressed approval for the potential of a roadmap, though not explicitly pledging the country to it. The minister remarked: “In times we have a terrain that is very challenging, it is good that we have a guide. But the guide does not force us to travel, or to advance.”

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

Scores of nations gathered in Belém for the UN climate summit, which is starting its second week, are seeking to establish how a worldwide transition of fossil fuels could work. 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.”

That pledge lacked a schedule or specifics on how it could be achieved, and even though it was passed unanimously, some countries have later tried to back away from the pledge. Attempts last year to expand on its practical implications were blocked by resistance from oil-dependent nations at COP29.

Consequently, there was no mention of the shift away from fossil fuels in the final agreement of that conference.

Because of this, the host has been cautious of demands by certain nations to place the phaseout on the agenda for the current summit. But the minister has strived in private to make sure the topic could be discussed at the conference outside the official program.

The minister won over the nation's leader, and he made public reference repeatedly to the need to “move away from reliance on traditional energy” at the global leaders' meeting that preceded COP30, and at the start of the event.

“The issue is something that we understand at some point had to be put forward, because it is the sole way to face the problem from the source,” Marina Silva said. “We recognise that it is challenging, and we cannot sell unrealistic expectations. Raising the subject is courageous, and I wish [to see] this bravery from all, from producing nations and using countries.”

Brazil had not initiated the push for a transition, she clarified, because that had been done at the earlier summit. Rather, it was allowing the talks to occur in accordance with what some countries wished. “We understand these subjects are sensitive. We will provide the opportunity to talk about it,” the minister said.

There is not enough time at COP30 to create a roadmap, a task the minister said could take a number of years because many countries faced complex issues around reliance on fossil fuels, or wanted to use the proceeds from exporting oil and gas to fund their economic growth.

“Brazil raises the topic, because it is both a producing nation and consumer,” she noted. “But the nation is different, because it, if it wants to, need not depend on fossil fuels. We have to understand that there are certain nations that rely on carbon energy in their economies and don’t have simple alternatives, and some where fossil fuels are the basis of their economy.

“To be fair is to be fair to everyone, but the fundamental, primordial justice is to avoid being unjust to the planet, because it is our shared home.”

If the pledge gains enough 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 require dialogue with all participating countries to the UN climate treaty and criteria for how the process would unfold, the minister said. “Once we have criteria, a management framework can be drawn up; after we have a strategy, and create protections to be able to build trust in the system, I believe that with these components we can transform good ideas into actions that are clearer, and more concrete.”

There is no guarantee that a proposal to start developing a plan would win approval at the conference, although it does not require the official approval of the conference, which operates by consensus and can be disrupted by particular groups. COP experts have indicated they think there could be support for such a proposal from about sixty countries, but there are thought to be at least 40 against. A total of one hundred ninety-five nations represented at the talks.

“In spite of 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 path to realizing worldwide phaseout is in itself highly significant.”

“In simple terms, there’s no route to a world where warming remains below 1.5C in which nations cannot to discuss ending fossil fuel use.”

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

Discussions continued on Saturday on four outstanding issues that have not yet been included into the formal schedule: trade, transparency, funding and how to tackle the gap between the emissions cuts countries have proposed and those needed to keep to the 1.5-degree warming limit.

A COP30 president pledged a “note” that would address these matters, after discussions – which have been underway since the start of the week – were inconclusive. The official called on nations to embrace the “mutirão” attitude, referring to one of collaboration and constructive dialogue.

Work on other substantive issues – such as adaptation to the effects of the climate emergency, the fair shift for those affected by the move to a green economic system and how to build governance capabilities in less developed nations – proceeded constructively, the host reported.

The host nation's chief negotiator stated the detailed part of the COP proceedings was nearing the end, and the political stage – when ministers who have the authority to alter their countries’ positions join – was beginning.