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Brazil’s climate chief, Marina Silva, has called on all nations to show the courage needed to confront the imperative of a global transition away from fossil fuels, labeling the creation of a roadmap as an “ethical” answer to the global warming emergency.

She stressed, however, that involvement in this process would be voluntary and “self-determined” for willing governments.

The topic remains 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 what can be included on the official agenda.

Silva expressed support for the possibility of a roadmap, though not explicitly pledging the country to it. The minister remarked: “When we have a situation that is very challenging, it is helpful that we have a map. But the map does not force us to travel, or to climb.”

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

Dozens of nations gathered in the host city for the global climate conference, which is starting its second week, are aiming to determine how a worldwide transition of fossil fuels could be implemented. These nations hope to build on a historic resolution reached two years ago at a previous UN summit to “move away from non-renewable energy sources.”

The commitment lacked a schedule or specifics on the way it could be achieved, and even though it was adopted by all, some countries have since attempted to disavow the promise. Efforts last year to expand on its practical meaning were stymied by resistance from petrostates at COP29.

As a result, there was no reference of the transition away from carbon fuels in the outcome of that conference.

Because of this, the host has been cautious of calls by some nations to place the transition on the agenda for COP30. But Silva has strived behind the scenes to ensure the topic could be talked about at the conference outside the official agenda.

She won over Brazil’s president, who made mention repeatedly to the need to “shift from reliance on fossil fuels” at the global leaders' meeting that came before COP30, and at the start of the summit.

“The issue is a matter that we know at some point had to be raised, because it is the only way to address the issue from the source,” Marina Silva said. “We recognise that it is not easy, and we cannot sell unrealistic expectations. Bringing up the topic is courageous, and I wish [to see] this bravery from all, from producing nations and using countries.”

The nation had not started the push for a transition, the minister said, because that had been done at COP28. Rather, it was allowing the discussions to occur in accordance with what certain countries wished. “We know these subjects are sensitive. We will provide the chance to discuss it,” she said.

Time is insufficient at COP30 to create a roadmap, a task the minister called could take several years because many countries confronted complex challenges around dependence on fossil fuels, or aimed to use the revenue from exporting oil and gas to fund their development.

“Brazil raises the subject, because it is both a producing nation and consumer,” she noted. “But Brazil is unique, because it, if it chooses to, need not rely on non-renewables. We have to understand that there are certain nations that depend on fossil fuels in their economic systems and don’t have simple solutions, and others where fossil fuels are the foundation of their economy.

“To be fair is to be just to all, but the essential, basic fairness is not being unjust to the planet, because it is our home.”

If the pledge gains enough support, COP30 could establish a forum in which the process of creating a strategy to the phaseout could begin.

This process would require dialogue with all signatory countries to the UN climate treaty and criteria for how the initiative would proceed, Silva explained. “After we have criteria, a management framework can be drawn up; after we have a plan, and establish protections to be able to build trust in the system, I believe that with these components we can transform positive concepts into steps that are more defined, and more concrete.”

It is uncertain that a proposal to begin drawing up a roadmap would win approval at the conference, although it may not need the formal approval of the summit, which proceeds by unanimous agreement and can be disrupted by special interests. COP experts have indicated they believe there could be backing for such a proposal from about 60 nations, 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 root cause of global warming, carbon-based energy are about the most divisive subject there is within the international climate talks, so to see a chunky coalition of nations publicly backing a path to realizing worldwide phaseout is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

“Put simply, there’s no path to a world where warming remains below 1.5 degrees in which countries aren’t able to discuss fossil fuel phaseout.”

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

Discussions continued on the weekend on several outstanding issues that have not yet been incorporated into the formal agenda: trade, transparency, finance and how to tackle the gap between the carbon reduction countries have proposed and those required to hold to the 1.5C temperature limit.

A COP30 president pledged a “document” that would cover these issues, after consultations – which have been underway since the start of the week – were unresolved. The official called on nations to adopt the “mutirão” attitude, referring to one of collaboration and positive discussion.

Work on additional key issues – including adjustment to the impacts of the climate emergency, the fair shift for those affected by the move to a green economic system and how to strengthen governance capabilities in less developed nations – carried on productively, the host said.

Brazil’s chief negotiator said the detailed phase of the summit proceedings was nearing the end, and the high-level phase – when ministers who have the power to alter their countries’ stances join – was starting.