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Brazil’s climate chief, Marina Silva, has called on all nations to show the courage needed to address the imperative of a worldwide transition away from fossil fuels, describing the creation of a detailed plan as an “ethical” response to the global warming emergency.

The minister emphasized, however, that participation in this process would be voluntary and “independently decided” for interested governments.

The topic stands as one of the most debated subjects at the UN climate summit in Brazil, with nations split over whether and in what way such a strategy can be addressed. As the host, Brazil has maintained a balanced stance on what can be placed on the formal schedule.

The official voiced support for the possibility of a roadmap, without directly committing Brazil to it. The minister stated: “In times we have a situation that is very challenging, it is good that we have a map. But the guide does not compel us to travel, or to climb.”

In an interview, she noted: “The roadmap is an answer to our scientific understanding [of the climate crisis]. It is an ethical answer.”

Dozens of nations gathered in Belém for the UN climate summit, which is entering its second week, are seeking to establish how a global transition of fossil fuels could be implemented. These nations aim to build on a historic resolution reached two years ago at COP28 to “move away from fossil fuels.”

The commitment had no a schedule or specifics on how it could be achieved, and even though it was passed unanimously, several countries have since attempted to disavow the pledge. Efforts last year to elaborate on its practical meaning were blocked by opposition from oil-dependent nations at COP29.

As a result, there was no reference of the shift away from fossil fuels in the final agreement of that conference.

For these reasons, the host has been wary of demands by some countries to place the transition on the schedule for the current summit. But Silva has worked hard behind the scenes to make sure the topic could be talked about at the conference apart from the official agenda.

The minister won over the nation's leader, and he gave mention three times to the need to “shift from reliance on traditional energy” at the summit of world leaders that came before COP30, and at the start of the summit.

“This is a matter that we understand at some point had to be raised, because it is the only way to address the issue from the root,” the minister explained. “We acknowledge that it is not easy, and we cannot sell false hopes. Bringing up the topic is courageous, and I hope [to see] this courage 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 the earlier summit. Rather, it was enabling the discussions to take place in accordance with what some countries desired. “We know these topics are sensitive. We will provide the opportunity to discuss it,” the minister said.

There is not enough time at COP30 to draw up a roadmap, a task Silva called could take a number of years because numerous nations faced complicated issues around dependence on carbon-based energy, or aimed to use the proceeds from exporting oil and gas to finance their economic growth.

“Brazil raises the topic, because it is simultaneously a producing nation and consumer,” the minister noted. “But Brazil is different, because it, if it wants to, does not have to depend on fossil fuels. We have to understand that there are certain nations that rely on carbon energy in their economic systems and lack simple solutions, 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 not being unjust to the planet, because it is our home.”

Should the pledge receives sufficient support, COP30 could set up a platform in which the process of drawing up a strategy to the phaseout could start.

The process would require dialogue with all participating nations to the UN climate treaty and criteria for how the initiative would unfold, Silva said. “Once we have criteria, a governance structure can be drawn up; after we have a strategy, and establish protections to be able to build confidence in the process, I am confident that with these components we can turn good ideas into steps that are clearer, and more tangible.”

It is uncertain that a proposal to start drawing up a plan would be accepted at COP30, even if it may not need the official consent of the conference, which proceeds by unanimous agreement and can be hijacked by particular groups. COP experts have indicated they think there could be backing for such a proposal from about 60 nations, but there are believed to be at least 40 opposed. There are one hundred ninety-five countries represented at the talks.

“Despite being the root cause of global warming, fossil fuels are about the most divisive subject there is within the international climate talks, so to see a sizable coalition of countries openly supporting a route to realizing worldwide transition is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

“In simple terms, there’s no route to a world where warming remains below 1.5 degrees in which countries cannot to discuss fossil fuel phaseout.”

“We require this wording for real in this discussion. It’s quite stupid that we talk about all topics but that when the main issue are the real problem.”

Discussions continued on the weekend on several unresolved topics that have still not been included into the formal agenda: commerce, transparency, funding and how to address the gap between the carbon reduction nations have proposed and those required to hold to the 1.5-degree temperature target.

The summit chair pledged a “document” that would address these matters, after discussions – which have been going on since Monday – were unresolved. He urged countries to embrace the “mutirão” attitude, meaning one of cooperation and constructive dialogue.

Work on other key issues – such as adaptation to the effects of the climate crisis, the fair shift for those impacted by the move to a green economy and how to build governance capabilities in less developed nations – carried on constructively, the host said.

Brazil’s lead representative stated the technical part of the COP process was nearing completion, and the political stage – when government leaders who have the authority to change their nations' stances arrive – was beginning.