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Brazil’s climate chief, Marina Silva, has urged every country to show the bravery needed to confront the necessity of a global fossil fuel phaseout, labeling the creation of a detailed plan as an “moral” response to the climate crisis.

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

The topic stands as one of the most debated matters at the UN climate summit in the host country, with nations divided over whether and in what way such a strategy can be discussed. Hosting the event, Brazil has adopted a balanced position on which items can be included on the official agenda.

The official voiced support for the possibility of a roadmap, without explicitly committing Brazil to it. She remarked: “In times we have a situation that is quite grim, it is good that we have a map. But the guide does not force us to travel, or to climb.”

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

Dozens of countries meeting in Belém for the global climate conference, which is starting its next phase, are seeking to determine how a global phaseout of fossil fuels could be implemented. These nations aim to advance a landmark agreement made two years ago at COP28 to “transition away from fossil fuels.”

That commitment lacked a schedule or details on how it could be achieved, and even though it was passed by all, some nations have since tried to back away from the pledge. Efforts last year to elaborate on its practical meaning were blocked by resistance from petrostates at another UN summit.

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

For these reasons, the host has been cautious of demands by certain nations to place the transition on the agenda for COP30. But the minister has strived in private to make sure the pledge could be talked about at the summit outside the official program.

The minister won over Brazil’s president, and he made public reference repeatedly to the need to “shift from dependence on fossil fuels” at the summit of world leaders that preceded the conference, and at the start of the summit.

“The issue is a matter that we understand at a certain time had to be raised, because it is the sole way to face the problem from the source,” the minister explained. “We recognise that it is challenging, and we must not offer false hopes. Raising the topic is brave, and I wish [to see] this bravery from all, from producers and consumers.”

Brazil had not started the push for a phaseout, she said, because that had been initiated at the earlier summit. Rather, it was enabling the discussions to take place in accordance with what certain nations desired. “We know these subjects are delicate. We will provide the opportunity to talk about it,” the minister said.

Time is insufficient at COP30 to draw up a roadmap, a task the minister called could take a number of years because many nations faced complex issues around reliance on carbon-based energy, or aimed to use the revenue from selling fossil fuels to finance their development.

“Brazil raises the topic, because it is simultaneously a producer and user,” she said. “But the nation is unique, because it, if it wants to, need not depend on non-renewables. We have to understand that there are certain nations that rely on carbon energy in their economies and don’t have simple alternatives, and others where oil and gas are the foundation of their economy.

“To be just is to be fair to everyone, but the essential, primordial fairness is to avoid being unfair to the planet, because it is our home.”

If the pledge receives enough support, the summit could establish a forum in which the process of drawing up a strategy to the transition could start.

This endeavor would require dialogue with all participating nations to the UN climate treaty and criteria for how the initiative would proceed, Silva explained. “After we have criteria, a management framework can be developed; after we have a strategy, and establish safeguards to be able to establish trust in the system, I am confident that with these elements we can transform positive concepts into actions that are clearer, and more concrete.”

It is uncertain that a proposal to begin developing a plan would be accepted at the conference, even if it does not require the formal approval of the summit, which operates by consensus and can be hijacked by particular groups. COP analysts have indicated they believe there could be support for such a proposal from about sixty countries, but there are believed to be at least forty against. There are one hundred ninety-five countries represented at the negotiations.

“In spite of being the primary source of climate change, fossil fuels are about the most contentious subject there is within the international climate talks, so to see a sizable coalition of countries publicly backing a route to realizing global transition is in itself highly significant.”

“In simple terms, there’s no path to a world where temperature rise remains below 1.5 degrees in which countries cannot to discuss ending fossil fuel use.”

“We require this language for actual in this conversation. It’s highly illogical that we talk about all topics but that when fossil fuels are the actual challenge.”

Negotiations carried on on Saturday on several outstanding issues that have not yet been incorporated into the formal agenda: trade, openness, funding and how to address the shortfall between the emissions cuts nations have planned and those required to hold to the 1.5-degree warming limit.

The summit president promised a “note” that would cover these issues, after consultations – which have been underway since the start of the week – were inconclusive. He called on nations to embrace the “mutirão” attitude, meaning one of collaboration and constructive dialogue.

Progress on other key topics – such as adaptation to the impacts of the climate emergency, the fair shift for those affected by the transition to a green economy and how to build governance capabilities in developing countries – carried on constructively, the presidency said.

The host nation's lead representative stated the technical part of the COP proceedings was approaching completion, and the political stage – when government leaders who have the power to change their countries’ stances join – was beginning.