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Brazil’s environment minister, the minister, has called on every country to show the bravery needed to confront the imperative of a worldwide transition away from fossil fuels, describing the creation of a roadmap as an “moral” answer to the global warming emergency.

The minister emphasized, however, that involvement in this process would be optional and “self-determined” for interested nations.

This issue remains one of the most debated subjects at the UN climate summit in Brazil, with nations divided over if and how such a strategy can be discussed. As the host, the nation has maintained a balanced position on which items can be placed on the official agenda.

Silva expressed approval for the possibility of a plan, without explicitly pledging Brazil to it. The minister stated: “In times we have a situation that is quite grim, it is good that we have a guide. But the map does not compel us to proceed, or to advance.”

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

Scores of countries meeting in the host city for the global climate conference, which is entering its next phase, are seeking to establish how a worldwide phaseout of oil, gas, and coal could be implemented. These nations hope to advance a historic agreement reached two years ago at a previous UN summit to “transition away from fossil fuels.”

The pledge had no a timetable or details on the way it could be realized, and although it was passed by all, several countries have later attempted to back away from the pledge. Attempts last year to expand on its practical meaning were blocked by resistance from petrostates at COP29.

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

Because of this, Brazil has been wary of demands by certain nations to include the transition on the agenda for the current summit. But the minister has worked hard in private to make sure the pledge could be talked about at the summit apart from the official program.

The minister convinced the nation's leader, and he gave mention repeatedly to the need to “move away from reliance on traditional energy” at the summit of world leaders that preceded COP30, and at the opening of the summit.

“This is something that we understand at a certain time had to be put forward, because it is the sole way to address the problem from the root,” the minister said. “We recognise that it is not easy, and we must not offer unrealistic expectations. Bringing up the topic is brave, and I hope [to see] this courage from everyone, from producing nations and using countries.”

Brazil had not initiated the push for a transition, the minister said, because that had been done at the earlier summit. Instead, it was enabling the discussions to occur in line with what certain countries desired. “We know these topics are delicate. We will provide the chance to talk about it,” the minister said.

Time is insufficient at the summit to create a detailed plan, a process Silva said could take a number of years because numerous countries confronted complex challenges around reliance on carbon-based energy, or aimed 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 user,” the minister noted. “But the nation is different, because it, if it chooses to, does not have to rely on non-renewables. We have to understand that there are some that rely on fossil fuels in their economies and lack easy solutions, and others where fossil fuels are the foundation of their economic structure.

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

If the pledge gains sufficient backing, COP30 could set up a platform in which the process of drawing up a strategy to the transition could start.

This process would require dialogue with all participating nations to the UN framework convention on climate change and guidelines for how the initiative would proceed, the minister said. “Once we have criteria, a management framework can be drawn up; once we have a strategy, and establish protections 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 concrete.”

There is no guarantee that a suggestion to start developing a roadmap would be accepted at the conference, although it does not require the formal approval of the conference, which operates by unanimous agreement and can be hijacked by particular groups. Climate analysts have suggested they think there could be backing for such a idea from about sixty countries, but there are believed to be at least forty against. There are 195 countries participating at the negotiations.

“In spite of being the primary source of global warming, fossil fuels are about the most contentious topic there is within the international climate talks, so to see a chunky group of countries openly supporting a route to achieving global transition is in itself highly significant.”

“Put simply, there’s no path to a world where warming stays below 1.5C in which countries aren’t able to talk about fossil fuel phaseout.”

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

Discussions continued on Saturday on four outstanding issues that have not yet been incorporated into the official agenda: commerce, transparency, finance and how to tackle the shortfall between the carbon reduction nations have proposed and those needed to hold to the 1.5C warming limit.

The COP30 president promised a “document” that would address these issues, after consultations – which have been underway since the start of the week – were unresolved. The official urged nations to adopt the “mutirão” spirit, referring to one of cooperation and positive dialogue.

Progress on other substantive topics – such as adjustment to the impacts of the climate emergency, the fair shift for those affected by the transition to a green economic system and how to strengthen institutional capacity in less developed nations – carried on constructively, the host reported.

The host nation's chief negotiator said the detailed part of the summit process was nearing the end, and the high-level stage – when ministers who have the authority to alter their countries’ stances arrive – was starting.