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The environment minister, the minister, has called on all nations to show the bravery needed to confront the imperative of a global fossil fuel phaseout, describing the development of a roadmap as an “ethical” answer to the climate crisis.

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

This issue stands as one of the most contentious matters at the COP30 in the host country, with countries split over if and in what way such a strategy can be addressed. As the host, Brazil has adopted a carefully neutral position on which items can be placed on the official schedule.

The official voiced support for the possibility of a plan, without explicitly pledging the country to it. She stated: “In times we have a situation that is quite grim, it is helpful that we have a map. But the guide does not compel us to travel, or to advance.”

Speaking further, she added: “The map is an response to our scientific knowledge [of the climate crisis]. It is an ethical response.”

Scores of countries meeting in the host city for the global climate conference, which is starting its next phase, are seeking to determine how a worldwide phaseout of oil, gas, and coal could work. They hope to build on a historic resolution reached two years ago at a previous UN summit to “move away from fossil fuels.”

The pledge had no a schedule or details on how it could be achieved, and although it was passed unanimously, several countries have since tried to back away from the pledge. Attempts last year to expand 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 COP29.

Because of this, Brazil has been wary of demands by some countries to include the transition on the agenda for the current summit. But Silva has strived behind the scenes to make sure the pledge could be discussed at the conference apart from the official agenda.

She won over the nation's leader, and he made public reference repeatedly to the need to “shift from dependence on traditional energy” at the global leaders' meeting that preceded COP30, and at the opening of the summit.

“The issue is a matter that we know at a certain time had to be put forward, because it is the sole way to address the problem from the root,” the minister explained. “We acknowledge that it is challenging, and we must not sell unrealistic expectations. Raising the subject is courageous, and I hope [to see] this bravery from all, from producers and consumers.”

The nation had not started the call for a transition, she said, because that had been done at COP28. Rather, it was allowing the discussions to take place in line with what certain nations desired. “We understand these topics are delicate. We will give the chance to talk about it,” she said.

There is not enough time at COP30 to draw up a roadmap, a task the minister called could take several years because many countries confronted complicated issues around reliance on fossil fuels, or wanted to use the proceeds from exporting oil and gas to fund their development.

“The country raises the topic, because it is simultaneously a producing nation and consumer,” the minister noted. “But the nation is unique, because Brazil, if it wants to, does not have to rely on fossil fuels. We have to understand that there are some that depend on carbon energy in their economies and lack easy alternatives, and some where oil and gas are the basis of their economy.

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

If the proposal gains sufficient support, COP30 could set up a platform in which the work of creating a roadmap to the phaseout could begin.

This endeavor would involve discussions with every participating countries to the UN climate treaty and criteria for how the process would unfold, the minister explained. “Once we have standards, a governance structure can be drawn up; after we have a strategy, and establish safeguards to be able to build confidence in the system, I am confident that with these elements we can turn good ideas into actions that are more defined, and more tangible.”

There is no guarantee that a proposal to begin developing a roadmap would be accepted at the conference, even if it may not need the official approval of the conference, which operates by unanimous agreement and can be disrupted by special interests. Climate experts have indicated they believe there could be support for such a idea from about 60 nations, but there are believed to be at least forty opposed. A total of 195 countries represented at the negotiations.

“In spite of being the primary source of global warming, carbon-based energy are about the most divisive topic there is within the UN negotiations, so to see a sizable coalition of nations openly supporting a path to achieving global transition is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

“Put simply, there’s no path to a world where warming remains below 1.5 degrees in which nations aren’t able to talk about ending fossil fuel use.”

“We require this wording for real in this conversation. It’s highly illogical that we talk about everything but that when fossil fuels are the actual problem.”

Discussions carried on on the weekend on four unresolved issues that have not yet been included into the official agenda: commerce, transparency, funding and how to tackle the gap between the carbon reduction nations have proposed and those needed to keep to the 1.5-degree warming limit.

A COP30 chair promised a “document” that would address these issues, after consultations – which have been going on since the start of the week – were unresolved. He called on countries to adopt the “mutirão” attitude, meaning one of collaboration and constructive dialogue.

Work on other substantive topics – such as adjustment to the impacts of the climate emergency, the fair shift for those impacted by the move to a low-carbon economy and how to build governance capabilities in developing countries – proceeded productively, the host reported.

Brazil’s chief negotiator stated the technical phase of the COP proceedings was approaching the end, and the political phase – when government leaders who have the authority to alter their nations' positions arrive – was beginning.