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Brazil’s environment minister, Marina Silva, has urged every country to demonstrate the courage needed to address the necessity of a global fossil fuel phaseout, describing the development of a roadmap as an “moral” answer to the climate crisis.

She emphasized, however, that participation in this endeavor would be optional and “independently decided” for interested governments.

The topic remains one of the most contentious matters at the UN climate summit in the host country, with countries split over if and in what way such a roadmap can be discussed. As the host, Brazil has maintained a carefully neutral position on what can be placed on the official agenda.

Silva voiced support for the possibility of a plan, without explicitly committing the country to it. The minister remarked: “In times we have a terrain that is quite grim, it is good that we have a guide. But the guide does not force us to travel, or to advance.”

In an interview, she added: “The map is an answer to our scientific understanding [of the climate emergency]. It is an ethical answer.”

Dozens of nations gathered in the host city for the global climate conference, which is entering its next phase, are aiming to determine how a worldwide transition of fossil fuels could work. These nations hope to advance a landmark agreement made two years ago at COP28 to “move away from non-renewable energy sources.”

The commitment lacked a schedule or specifics on the way it could be realized, and although it was adopted unanimously, several nations have since attempted to disavow the pledge. Attempts last year to elaborate on its practical implications were blocked by resistance from petrostates at COP29.

Consequently, there was no mention of the shift away from carbon fuels in the outcome of COP29.

For these reasons, the host has been wary of calls by certain countries to place the phaseout on the schedule for COP30. But the minister has worked hard behind the scenes to make sure the topic could be discussed at the conference apart from the formal agenda.

She won over Brazil’s leader, and he gave mention three times to the need to “shift from reliance on fossil fuels” at the summit of world leaders that preceded the conference, and at the opening of the summit.

“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 must not sell unrealistic expectations. Raising the topic is courageous, and I wish [to see] this courage from everyone, from producing nations and using countries.”

Brazil had not started the call for a transition, the minister said, because that had been initiated at the earlier summit. Rather, it was allowing the discussions to take place in accordance with what some countries wished. “We know these subjects are delicate. We will give the chance to discuss it,” the minister added.

There is not enough time at COP30 to draw up a roadmap, a process the minister said could take a number of years because numerous nations faced complex challenges around dependence on carbon-based energy, or aimed to use the proceeds from exporting oil and gas to finance their economic growth.

“Brazil brings up the subject, because it is both a producer and consumer,” the minister noted. “But Brazil is unique, because it, if it wants to, need not depend on non-renewables. We have to recognise that there are certain nations that rely on carbon energy in their economies and don’t have easy solutions, and others where fossil fuels are the basis of their economic structure.

“To be fair is to be fair to all, but the essential, basic justice is to avoid being unfair to the Earth, because it is our shared home.”

If the pledge gains sufficient backing, the summit could establish a forum in which the process of drawing up a roadmap to the transition could begin.

This endeavor would require dialogue with all signatory nations to the UN framework convention on climate change and guidelines for how the initiative would unfold, Silva said. “After we have standards, a governance structure can be developed; once we have a strategy, and create safeguards to be able to build confidence in the process, I am confident that with these components we can turn good ideas into actions that are clearer, and more tangible.”

It is uncertain that a proposal to start developing a roadmap would be accepted at COP30, although it does not require the formal approval of the conference, which proceeds by consensus and can be disrupted by special interests. Climate analysts have suggested they believe there could be support for such a proposal from about 60 countries, but there are thought to be at least 40 against. A total of 195 nations participating at the negotiations.

“In spite of being the root cause of climate change, carbon-based energy are about the most divisive topic there is within the international climate talks, so to see a sizable coalition of nations publicly backing a path to realizing global phaseout is in itself highly significant.”

“In simple terms, there’s no route to a world where warming stays below 1.5 degrees in which nations aren’t able to discuss fossil fuel phaseout.”

“We require this language for actual in this conversation. It’s quite stupid that we discuss everything but then when the main issue are the real problem.”

Negotiations carried on on Saturday on several unresolved topics that have not yet been incorporated into the formal agenda: trade, openness, finance and how to tackle the shortfall between the emissions cuts nations have proposed and those needed to hold to the 1.5-degree temperature target.

A COP30 president promised a “document” that would cover these matters, after discussions – which have been underway since Monday – were unresolved. He urged nations to embrace the “mutirão” spirit, referring to one of cooperation and constructive discussion.

Progress on additional key topics – such as adaptation to the impacts of the climate emergency, the just transition for those impacted by the transition to a green economy and how to strengthen governance capabilities in developing countries – carried on productively, the presidency reported.

The host nation's lead representative said the technical phase of the summit proceedings was nearing the end, and the political phase – when ministers who have the authority to alter their countries’ positions arrive – was starting.