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Brazil’s environment minister, Marina Silva, has urged all nations to demonstrate the bravery needed to address the necessity of a worldwide transition away from fossil fuels, labeling the creation of a detailed plan as an “moral” answer to the climate crisis.

She emphasized, though, that participation in this endeavor would be voluntary and “self-determined” for willing nations.

The topic stands as one of the most debated matters at the UN climate summit in Brazil, with nations split over whether and how such a strategy can be addressed. Hosting the event, the nation has maintained a balanced stance on what can be placed on the formal agenda.

The official voiced approval for the potential of a plan, though not directly pledging Brazil 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 climb.”

Speaking further, the minister added: “The map is an response to our scientific understanding [of the climate crisis]. It is an ethical response.”

Dozens of countries gathered in Belém for the global climate conference, which is starting its next phase, are aiming to establish how a global transition of oil, gas, and coal could be implemented. These nations hope to advance a historic agreement made two years ago at COP28 to “transition away from fossil fuels.”

The pledge had no a schedule or specifics on how it could be achieved, and although it was adopted unanimously, several countries have later attempted to disavow the pledge. Efforts last year to elaborate on its real-world meaning were blocked by opposition from oil-dependent nations at COP29.

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

Because of this, the host has been cautious 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 topic could be discussed at the conference apart from the formal agenda.

She convinced Brazil’s leader, and he made mention repeatedly to the need to “move away from dependence on traditional energy” at the summit of world leaders that preceded the conference, and at the start of the event.

“The issue is a matter that we know at a certain time had to be raised, because it is the only way to address the problem from the root,” the minister said. “We acknowledge that it is challenging, and we cannot sell unrealistic expectations. Bringing up the subject is brave, and I wish [to see] this bravery from everyone, from producers and consumers.”

Brazil had not started the call for a transition, she clarified, because that had been initiated at COP28. Rather, it was allowing the talks to occur in line with what certain nations desired. “We know these topics are delicate. We will give the opportunity to talk about it,” the minister added.

There is not enough time at the summit to create a detailed plan, a task the minister called could take several years because many nations confronted complicated issues around dependence on fossil fuels, or aimed to use the proceeds from exporting oil and gas to finance their development.

“Brazil brings up the topic, because Brazil is both a producing nation and user,” she said. “But the nation is different, because it, if it wants to, need not rely on fossil fuels. We have to recognise that there are some that rely on fossil fuels in their economies and don’t have simple alternatives, and others where oil and gas are the basis of their economic structure.

“To be fair is to be just to everyone, but the fundamental, basic justice is not being unjust to the Earth, because it is our shared home.”

If the pledge receives enough support, COP30 could set up a forum in which the work of creating a strategy to the phaseout could begin.

The endeavor would involve dialogue with every signatory countries to the UN framework convention on climate change and criteria for how the process would proceed, Silva said. “After we have standards, a management framework can be drawn up; after we have a strategy, and establish safeguards to be able to build confidence in the process, I am confident that with these elements we can transform good ideas into actions that are clearer, and more tangible.”

It is uncertain that a proposal to start developing a roadmap would be accepted at COP30, although it does not require the formal approval of the summit, which proceeds by consensus and can be hijacked by particular groups. COP experts have suggested they believe there could be support for such a idea from about sixty nations, but there are thought to be at least forty opposed. A total of one hundred ninety-five countries represented at the negotiations.

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

“Put simply, there’s no route to a world 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 quite stupid that we talk about all topics but that when fossil fuels are the actual problem.”

Negotiations continued on the weekend on four unresolved topics that have not yet been included into the formal agenda: commerce, openness, funding and how to tackle the gap between the emissions cuts countries have proposed and those needed to keep to the 1.5C temperature limit.

The summit chair promised a “document” that would cover these issues, after discussions – which have been underway since the start of the week – were unresolved. The official called on countries to embrace the “mutirão” spirit, meaning one of cooperation and constructive dialogue.

Work on additional key topics – such as adaptation to the impacts of the climate crisis, the fair shift for those affected by the transition to a low-carbon economic system and how to strengthen institutional capacity in developing countries – carried on productively, the host said.

The host nation's lead representative said the technical phase of the COP process was nearing the end, and the high-level phase – when ministers who have the power to change their nations' positions join – was beginning.