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The environment minister, Marina Silva, has called on every country to demonstrate the bravery needed to address the necessity of a global fossil fuel phaseout, labeling the development of a detailed plan as an “moral” response to the global warming emergency.

The minister emphasized, however, that participation in this endeavor would be voluntary and “independently decided” for willing nations.

The topic remains one of the most contentious subjects at the UN climate summit in Brazil, with nations divided over if and how such a strategy can be discussed. As the host, Brazil has maintained a carefully neutral position on which items can be included on the formal agenda.

Silva expressed approval for the potential of a plan, though not directly pledging the country to it. She stated: “When we have a terrain that is quite grim, it is good that we have a guide. But the guide does not force us to proceed, or to advance.”

In an interview, the minister noted: “The map is an answer to our scientific knowledge [of the climate emergency]. It is an ethical answer.”

Scores of nations gathered in Belém for the UN climate summit, which is starting its next phase, are aiming to determine how a worldwide transition of fossil fuels could be implemented. These nations hope to advance a landmark resolution reached two years ago at a previous UN summit to “move away from fossil fuels.”

The pledge lacked a schedule or specifics on how it could be achieved, and even though it was passed unanimously, some countries have later attempted to back away from the promise. Efforts last year to expand on its practical meaning were blocked by opposition from petrostates at COP29.

Consequently, there was no reference of the transition away from fossil fuels in the outcome of COP29.

For these reasons, Brazil has been cautious of demands by certain countries to place the phaseout on the schedule for COP30. But the minister has strived behind the scenes to make sure the topic could be discussed at the summit apart from the official program.

The minister convinced the nation's president, and he gave mention three times to the need to “shift from reliance on fossil fuels” at the global leaders' meeting that came before COP30, and at the opening of the summit.

“The issue is something that we know at some point had to be raised, because it is the sole way to face the problem from the root,” the minister explained. “We acknowledge that it is not easy, and we must not offer false hopes. Raising the subject is brave, and I hope [to see] this bravery from everyone, from producing nations and using countries.”

Brazil had not initiated the call for a transition, she clarified, because that had been initiated at COP28. Rather, it was allowing the discussions to occur in line with what some nations desired. “We understand these subjects are delicate. We will give the opportunity to discuss it,” she said.

Time is insufficient at COP30 to draw up a detailed plan, a task Silva called could take a number of years because many countries confronted complex issues around reliance on fossil fuels, or wanted to use the proceeds from exporting oil and gas to finance their development.

“The country brings up the subject, because it is simultaneously a producer and consumer,” she said. “But the nation is different, because Brazil, if it chooses to, need not rely on fossil fuels. We have to recognise that there are certain nations that rely on fossil fuels in their economies and lack simple alternatives, and some where fossil fuels are the basis of their economy.

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

Should the pledge receives sufficient support, the summit could establish a forum in which the process of creating a strategy to the transition could start.

The process would involve dialogue with every participating countries to the UN framework convention on climate change and guidelines for how the initiative would proceed, the minister explained. “Once we have criteria, a management framework can be drawn up; once we have a strategy, and establish safeguards to be able to establish confidence in the process, I believe that with these elements we can transform good ideas into actions that are more defined, and more concrete.”

It is uncertain that a proposal to start developing a roadmap would be accepted at the conference, even if it may not need the official consent of the conference, which operates by consensus and can be disrupted by special interests. Climate analysts have suggested they believe there could be backing for such a idea from about 60 countries, but there are thought to be at least 40 against. A total of one hundred ninety-five countries represented at the negotiations.

“Despite being the primary source of global warming, carbon-based energy are about the most divisive subject there is within the UN negotiations, so to see a sizable group of nations openly backing a route to achieving worldwide phaseout is in itself highly significant.”

“Put simply, there’s no path to a planet where warming remains below 1.5C in which countries cannot to discuss ending fossil fuel use.”

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

Discussions continued on the weekend on four unresolved issues that have not yet been incorporated into the formal agenda: commerce, transparency, finance and how to address the shortfall between the carbon reduction countries have planned and those needed to hold to the 1.5C temperature limit.

A summit chair pledged a “document” that would cover these matters, after discussions – which have been going on since Monday – were unresolved. The official urged nations to embrace the “mutirão” attitude, meaning one of cooperation and positive discussion.

Work on additional key issues – including adjustment to the effects of the climate emergency, the fair shift for those impacted by the transition to a low-carbon economic system and how to strengthen institutional capacity in developing countries – carried on constructively, the host reported.

The host nation's lead representative said the technical part of the COP proceedings was nearing completion, and the high-level phase – when government leaders who have the power to change their countries’ stances join – was beginning.