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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 worldwide transition away from fossil fuels, describing the creation of a roadmap as an “moral” response to the climate crisis.

The minister emphasized, though, that involvement in this endeavor would be voluntary and “independently decided” for willing governments.

This issue stands as one of the most contentious subjects at the COP30 in the host country, with nations split over whether and in what way such a strategy can be discussed. As the host, Brazil has adopted a carefully neutral position on what can be included on the formal schedule.

Silva expressed support for the potential of a plan, though not directly 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 proceed, or to advance.”

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

Dozens of nations meeting in Belém for the UN climate summit, which is entering its next phase, are seeking to establish how a worldwide transition of fossil fuels could work. These nations hope to build on a landmark agreement made two years ago at a previous UN summit to “move away from non-renewable energy sources.”

That pledge had no a schedule or specifics on how it could be realized, and although it was adopted unanimously, several nations have later tried to disavow the promise. Efforts last year to expand on its practical meaning were blocked by opposition from petrostates at another UN summit.

Consequently, there was no mention of the shift away from fossil fuels in the final agreement of COP29.

Because of this, Brazil has been wary of calls by certain nations to place the transition on the schedule for the current summit. But the minister has strived in private to ensure the pledge could be discussed at the conference outside the formal program.

The minister won over the nation's leader, and he made public reference three times to the need to “shift from reliance on traditional energy” at the global leaders' meeting that came before the conference, and at the opening of the event.

“The issue is something that we understand at a certain time had to be put forward, because it is the sole way to face the issue from the source,” Marina Silva explained. “We acknowledge that it is challenging, and we must not sell unrealistic expectations. Raising the topic is brave, and I wish [to see] this bravery from everyone, from producing nations and using countries.”

The nation had not started the call for a phaseout, she said, because that had been done at the earlier summit. Rather, it was enabling the talks to take place in line with what some nations wished. “We understand these subjects are sensitive. We will provide the opportunity to discuss it,” the minister added.

Time is insufficient at the summit to create a roadmap, a task Silva said could take several years because numerous nations faced complex issues around reliance on fossil fuels, or wanted to use the revenue from exporting fossil fuels to fund their development.

“Brazil raises the topic, because Brazil is simultaneously a producing nation and user,” the minister said. “But the nation is different, because Brazil, if it wants to, need not depend on non-renewables. We have to recognise that there are certain nations that depend on carbon energy in their economic systems and don’t have easy alternatives, and others where oil and gas are the basis of their economic structure.

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

If the proposal gains enough support, the summit could establish a forum in which the work of creating a roadmap to the phaseout could begin.

The endeavor would involve discussions with every signatory nations to the UN framework convention on climate change and guidelines for how the initiative would unfold, Silva explained. “After we have criteria, a governance structure can be developed; once we have a strategy, and create safeguards to be able to build confidence in the system, I believe that with these components we can transform positive concepts into actions that are more defined, and more tangible.”

It is uncertain that a proposal to begin drawing up a plan would be accepted at the conference, although it may not need the official approval of the conference, which operates by consensus and can be hijacked by particular groups. COP analysts have indicated they think there could be backing for such a proposal from about sixty nations, but there are thought to be at least forty opposed. A total of 195 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 nations openly backing a route to achieving worldwide transition is in itself highly significant.”

“Put simply, there’s no route to a planet where warming stays below 1.5 degrees in which nations cannot to discuss ending fossil fuel use.”

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

Negotiations continued on Saturday on four outstanding issues that have still not been incorporated into the official agenda: trade, openness, finance and how to address the gap between the carbon reduction nations have planned and those needed to hold to the 1.5-degree warming target.

The summit president pledged a “note” that would cover these issues, after discussions – which have been underway since Monday – were unresolved. He called on countries to embrace the “mutirão” attitude, meaning one of collaboration and constructive discussion.

Progress on additional substantive issues – including adaptation to the impacts of the climate emergency, the fair shift for those affected by the move to a low-carbon economic system and how to build institutional capacity in less developed nations – carried on productively, the presidency said.

Brazil’s lead representative stated the detailed phase of the COP proceedings was nearing the end, and the high-level phase – when ministers who have the authority to change their nations' positions join – was beginning.