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The climate chief, the minister, has urged all nations to demonstrate the bravery needed to confront the imperative of a worldwide fossil fuel phaseout, describing the development of a roadmap as an “ethical” response to the global warming emergency.

She stressed, though, that involvement in this process would be optional and “independently decided” for willing governments.

This issue stands as one of the most contentious subjects at the COP30 in Brazil, with countries split over whether and how such a strategy can be addressed. Hosting the event, Brazil has adopted a balanced position on which items can be placed on the formal schedule.

Silva expressed support for the potential of a roadmap, though not explicitly pledging the country to it. The minister remarked: “In times we have a situation that is quite grim, it is helpful that we have a guide. But the guide does not compel us to travel, or to climb.”

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

Dozens of nations gathered in the host city for the global climate conference, which is entering its next phase, are aiming to determine how a worldwide transition of oil, gas, and coal could be implemented. They aim to advance a landmark agreement reached two years ago at COP28 to “move away from fossil fuels.”

The pledge lacked a timetable or specifics on how it could be achieved, and although it was adopted unanimously, some nations have since attempted to disavow the pledge. Attempts last year to expand on its practical meaning were stymied by opposition from petrostates 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, Brazil has been wary of calls by certain nations to include the transition on the agenda for COP30. But Silva has worked hard behind the scenes to make sure the topic could be discussed at the summit apart from the official program.

The minister won over Brazil’s president, and he gave public reference repeatedly to the need to “move away from dependence on fossil fuels” at the summit of world leaders that preceded COP30, and at the opening of the summit.

“This is something that we know at a certain time had to be raised, because it is the sole way to face the problem from the source,” the minister explained. “We recognise that it is not easy, and we cannot sell unrealistic expectations. Bringing up the topic is courageous, and I wish [to see] this courage from everyone, from producers and using countries.”

The nation had not started the call for a transition, she said, because that had been done at COP28. Instead, it was allowing the discussions to occur in line with what some nations wished. “We know these topics are delicate. We will give the chance to discuss it,” the minister said.

There is not enough time at COP30 to create a detailed plan, a process the minister said could take several years because many countries faced complex challenges around dependence on fossil fuels, or aimed to use the revenue from selling fossil fuels to fund their economic growth.

“The country brings up the subject, because it is simultaneously a producer and user,” she said. “But the nation is different, because Brazil, if it chooses to, need not rely on non-renewables. We have to understand that there are some that rely on fossil fuels in their economic systems and don’t have easy solutions, and others where oil and gas are the foundation of their economy.

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

If the proposal receives enough backing, COP30 could set up a platform in which the process of drawing up a roadmap to the transition could start.

This endeavor would involve discussions with every signatory nations to the UN climate treaty and guidelines for how the process would proceed, Silva said. “Once we have standards, a management framework can be developed; once we have a plan, and establish protections to be able to establish confidence in the process, I believe that with these elements we can transform positive concepts into actions that are more defined, and more tangible.”

There is no guarantee that a suggestion to begin drawing up a roadmap would be accepted at the conference, even if it does not require the formal approval of the conference, which operates by unanimous agreement and can be disrupted by particular groups. COP analysts have indicated they believe there could be backing for such a idea from about sixty nations, but there are believed to be at least 40 against. There are 195 nations participating at the talks.

“In spite of being the primary source of global warming, fossil fuels are about the most contentious subject there is within the UN negotiations, so to see a sizable coalition of countries openly supporting a path to achieving global phaseout is in itself highly significant.”

“In simple terms, there’s no route to a world where temperature rise remains below 1.5C in which countries cannot to discuss ending fossil fuel use.”

“We require this language for actual in this discussion. It’s highly illogical that we talk about everything but that when fossil fuels are the actual challenge.”

Negotiations continued on the weekend on four outstanding topics that have not yet been included into the official schedule: commerce, transparency, finance and how to tackle the gap between the emissions cuts nations have planned and those required to keep to the 1.5C warming limit.

The COP30 chair promised a “document” that would address these issues, after consultations – which have been underway since the start of the week – were unresolved. He called on countries to adopt the “mutirão” attitude, meaning one of cooperation and constructive dialogue.

Progress on other substantive issues – such as adaptation to the effects of the climate emergency, the just transition for those impacted by the move to a low-carbon economic system and how to strengthen institutional capacity in developing countries – proceeded productively, the host said.

The host nation's lead representative said the detailed phase of the COP process was nearing the end, and the political stage – when ministers who have the authority to alter their countries’ stances arrive – was starting.