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Brazil’s climate chief, the minister, has called on all nations to demonstrate the bravery needed to confront the necessity of a worldwide fossil fuel phaseout, describing the development of a roadmap as an “ethical” answer to the global warming emergency.

She stressed, though, that involvement in this process would be optional and “independently decided” for willing nations.

The topic stands as one of the most contentious subjects at the COP30 in Brazil, with nations split over if and how such a strategy can be discussed. As the host, the nation has maintained a balanced stance on which items can be included on the formal schedule.

The official expressed support for the potential of a roadmap, without explicitly committing the country to it. The minister remarked: “When we have a situation that is quite grim, it is good that we have a map. But the map does not force us to travel, or to climb.”

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

Scores of nations gathered in the host city for the UN climate summit, which is starting its next phase, are seeking to determine how a worldwide transition of oil, gas, and coal could work. They hope to advance a landmark agreement reached two years ago at a previous UN summit to “transition away from non-renewable energy sources.”

That commitment lacked a timetable or specifics on the way it could be realized, and even though it was passed by all, some countries have later tried to back away from the promise. Attempts last year to elaborate on its practical meaning were blocked by opposition from oil-dependent nations at another UN summit.

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

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

The minister convinced Brazil’s president, and he made 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 start of the summit.

“This is a matter that we know at some point had to be raised, because it is the only way to face the problem from the source,” Marina Silva explained. “We acknowledge that it is not easy, and we must not offer unrealistic expectations. Bringing up the topic is courageous, and I hope [to see] this bravery from everyone, from producing nations and consumers.”

Brazil had not initiated the push for a phaseout, she clarified, because that had been done at COP28. Rather, it was enabling the talks to occur in accordance with what some countries desired. “We know these subjects are delicate. We will give the opportunity to discuss it,” she added.

Time is insufficient at COP30 to create a roadmap, a process the minister said could take several years because numerous countries confronted complicated challenges around dependence on carbon-based energy, or wanted to use the revenue from exporting oil and gas to finance their development.

“Brazil brings up the topic, because Brazil is both a producer and user,” the minister said. “But Brazil is different, because it, if it chooses to, need not depend on non-renewables. We have to understand that there are certain nations that rely on fossil fuels in their economies and don’t have easy solutions, and others where fossil fuels are the basis of their economy.

“To be just is to be just to all, but the essential, primordial justice is to avoid being unjust to the planet, because it is our shared home.”

Should the pledge receives sufficient backing, COP30 could establish a forum in which the process of creating a strategy to the transition could begin.

The endeavor would involve dialogue with all signatory countries to the UN framework convention on climate change and guidelines for how the initiative would unfold, the minister said. “After we have criteria, a management framework can be developed; once we have a plan, and create protections to be able to build trust in the process, I believe that with these components we can transform positive concepts into actions that are more defined, and more concrete.”

It is uncertain that a suggestion to begin developing a roadmap would win approval at the conference, even if it may not need the formal approval of the conference, which proceeds by consensus and can be hijacked by particular groups. Climate analysts have indicated they think there could be backing for such a proposal from about 60 nations, but there are thought to be at least forty against. A total of 195 nations participating at the talks.

“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 countries publicly backing a path to achieving worldwide transition is in itself highly significant.”

“In simple terms, there’s no route to a planet where warming stays below 1.5C in which countries cannot to discuss fossil fuel phaseout.”

“We need this language for real in this discussion. It’s highly illogical that we talk about everything but then when the main issue are the real challenge.”

Discussions carried on on the weekend on four unresolved topics that have still not been included into the official schedule: commerce, openness, funding and how to tackle the shortfall between the carbon reduction countries have proposed and those needed to hold to the 1.5C warming limit.

A COP30 chair pledged a “document” that would cover these issues, after consultations – which have been going on since the start of the week – were inconclusive. The official called on nations to adopt the “mutirão” spirit, meaning one of collaboration and positive dialogue.

Progress on other key topics – including adjustment to the effects of the climate emergency, the fair shift for those impacted by the transition to a low-carbon economic system and how to build governance capabilities in developing countries – proceeded constructively, the host said.

The host nation's chief negotiator stated the detailed part of the COP process was approaching the end, and the high-level phase – when ministers who have the authority to change their countries’ positions arrive – was starting.