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Brazil’s environment minister, the minister, has urged all nations to demonstrate the bravery needed to address the imperative of a global transition away from fossil fuels, describing the creation of a detailed plan as an “ethical” answer to the global warming emergency.

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

This issue remains one of the most contentious subjects at the UN climate summit in Brazil, with nations divided over if and in what way such a roadmap can be discussed. As the host, the nation has maintained a carefully neutral position on what can be included on the formal schedule.

The official expressed approval for the possibility of a roadmap, though not directly committing the country to it. The minister stated: “When we have a terrain that is very challenging, it is helpful that we have a guide. But the map does not force us to travel, or to advance.”

In an interview, the minister added: “The roadmap is an answer to our scientific understanding [of the climate emergency]. It is an ethical answer.”

Dozens of nations gathered in Belém for the global climate conference, which is entering its second week, are aiming to establish how a worldwide transition of fossil fuels could be implemented. These nations hope to build on a landmark agreement reached two years ago at COP28 to “move away from non-renewable energy sources.”

That pledge lacked a timetable or specifics on how it could be achieved, and even though it was adopted unanimously, some countries have later attempted to back away from the promise. Attempts last year to elaborate on its practical implications were stymied by opposition from petrostates at another UN summit.

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

For these reasons, Brazil has been wary of demands by some countries to include the phaseout on the agenda for COP30. But Silva has worked hard in private to make sure the pledge could be talked about at the conference outside the official program.

The minister won over the nation's president, who gave mention repeatedly to the need to “shift from dependence on fossil fuels” at the summit of world leaders that preceded COP30, and at the start of the summit.

“This is something that we know at a certain time had to be put forward, because it is the only way to address the issue from the root,” the minister explained. “We acknowledge that it is challenging, and we must not sell false hopes. Raising the subject is courageous, and I wish [to see] this bravery from everyone, from producers and consumers.”

Brazil had not initiated the push for a transition, the minister clarified, because that had been done at COP28. Rather, it was allowing the talks to occur in line with what certain nations desired. “We understand these subjects are delicate. We will provide the chance to talk about it,” she added.

Time is insufficient at the summit to draw up a roadmap, a task the minister said could take a number of years because many countries confronted complex issues around reliance on carbon-based energy, or wanted to use the proceeds from selling fossil fuels to finance their development.

“The country brings up the topic, because it is both a producing nation and user,” the minister noted. “But Brazil is unique, because it, if it chooses to, need not depend on non-renewables. We have to understand that there are certain nations that rely on carbon energy in their economies and don’t have 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 fundamental, basic fairness is not being unjust to the planet, because it is our home.”

Should the pledge receives enough support, COP30 could set up a forum in which the process of drawing up a roadmap to the transition could begin.

This endeavor would require dialogue with all signatory nations to the UN framework convention on climate change and guidelines for how the process would unfold, the minister explained. “Once we have standards, a governance structure can be developed; after we have a strategy, and create protections to be able to establish trust in the system, I am confident that with these elements we can transform good ideas into actions that are clearer, and more concrete.”

There is no guarantee that a proposal to start developing a plan would be accepted at the conference, even if it does not require the official consent of the summit, which operates by unanimous agreement and can be disrupted by particular groups. COP analysts have suggested they think there could be backing for such a proposal from about sixty nations, but there are believed to be at least 40 opposed. There are 195 nations participating at the negotiations.

“In spite of being the root cause of global warming, fossil fuels are about the most divisive subject there is within the UN negotiations, so to see a sizable coalition of nations openly supporting a path to achieving global phaseout is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

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

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

Negotiations carried on on Saturday on four unresolved topics that have not yet been incorporated into the formal schedule: commerce, transparency, finance and how to address the gap between the emissions cuts nations have planned and those needed to keep to the 1.5C warming limit.

A summit chair pledged a “document” that would address these issues, after consultations – which have been going on since Monday – were inconclusive. The official urged nations to adopt the “mutirão” attitude, referring to one of cooperation and positive dialogue.

Progress on other substantive issues – such as adaptation to the effects of the climate emergency, the fair shift for those impacted by the move to a low-carbon economic system and how to strengthen governance capabilities in developing countries – carried on productively, the host reported.

The host nation's chief negotiator said the technical part of the COP proceedings was approaching the end, and the political phase – when ministers who have the power to alter their nations' stances arrive – was starting.