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Brazil’s environment minister, Marina Silva, has urged all nations to show 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 climate crisis.

The minister stressed, however, that participation in this endeavor would be voluntary and “self-determined” for interested nations.

This issue stands as one of the most contentious matters at the COP30 in Brazil, with countries split over whether and how such a roadmap can be discussed. As the host, the nation has adopted a carefully neutral stance on what can be placed on the official agenda.

The official voiced approval for the possibility of a roadmap, without explicitly pledging the country to it. The minister remarked: “In times we have a situation that is quite grim, it is helpful that we have a guide. But the map does not force us to travel, or to climb.”

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

Dozens of nations gathered in the host city for the UN climate summit, which is entering its next phase, are aiming to establish how a worldwide transition of fossil fuels could work. These nations aim to advance a landmark resolution reached two years ago at a previous UN summit to “move away from non-renewable energy sources.”

That pledge lacked a schedule or details on the way it could be achieved, and although it was passed unanimously, some nations have later tried to disavow the pledge. Attempts last year to elaborate on its practical implications were stymied by opposition from oil-dependent nations at another UN summit.

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

Because of this, the host has been wary of demands by some nations to include the phaseout on the schedule for the current summit. But the minister has worked hard in private to ensure the topic could be discussed at the summit apart from the formal program.

She won over Brazil’s leader, and he made public reference three times to the need to “move away from reliance on traditional energy” at the global leaders' meeting that came before COP30, 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 issue from the root,” Marina Silva said. “We acknowledge that it is challenging, and we cannot offer false hopes. Bringing up the topic is courageous, and I hope [to see] this courage from all, from producers and consumers.”

The nation had not initiated the push for a phaseout, the minister said, because that had been initiated at the earlier summit. Rather, it was allowing the talks to occur in line with what certain nations desired. “We know these subjects are sensitive. We will give the opportunity to discuss it,” she said.

Time is insufficient at the summit to create a roadmap, a process the minister called could take several years because numerous countries confronted complicated challenges around reliance on carbon-based energy, or wanted to use the proceeds from exporting oil and gas to fund their development.

“The country raises the subject, because Brazil is both a producer and consumer,” the minister noted. “But Brazil is different, because it, if it chooses to, need not rely on non-renewables. We have to understand that there are some that rely on fossil fuels in their economic systems and lack easy alternatives, and others where oil and gas are the basis of their economic structure.

“To be fair is to be just to all, but the fundamental, primordial justice is not being unjust to the planet, because it is our home.”

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

The process would involve discussions with every participating countries to the UN climate treaty and criteria for how the initiative would proceed, the minister explained. “Once we have criteria, a governance structure can be developed; once we have a strategy, and establish protections to be able to establish trust in the process, I am confident that with these components we can transform positive concepts into steps that are clearer, and more tangible.”

There is no guarantee that a suggestion to begin developing a roadmap would be accepted at the conference, even if it does not require the official approval of the conference, which operates by consensus and can be disrupted by particular groups. Climate analysts have suggested they think there could be backing for such a proposal from about 60 nations, but there are believed to be at least forty opposed. A total of one hundred ninety-five nations represented at the negotiations.

“In spite of being the primary source of climate change, fossil fuels are about the most divisive topic there is within the international climate talks, so to see a sizable group of countries publicly supporting a route to achieving worldwide phaseout is in itself highly significant.”

“In simple terms, there’s no route to a world where warming stays below 1.5C in which nations aren’t able to talk about ending fossil fuel use.”

“We need this wording for real in this discussion. It’s highly illogical that we discuss everything but that when the main issue are the actual challenge.”

Discussions continued on Saturday on four outstanding issues that have not yet been incorporated into the official schedule: trade, transparency, funding and how to tackle the shortfall between the carbon reduction countries have planned and those required to keep to the 1.5C warming target.

A COP30 president promised a “document” that would cover these issues, after consultations – which have been underway since Monday – were inconclusive. He called on nations to adopt the “mutirão” spirit, referring to one of cooperation and positive discussion.

Progress on additional key topics – such as adjustment to the impacts of the climate crisis, the just transition for those affected by the move to a green economic system and how to strengthen institutional capacity in developing countries – proceeded constructively, the presidency reported.

The host nation's lead representative stated the detailed part of the COP process was nearing completion, and the political phase – when ministers who have the authority to alter their countries’ stances arrive – was starting.