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

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

This issue stands as one of the most contentious matters at the COP30 in the host country, with countries divided over whether and in what way such a strategy can be addressed. As the host, Brazil has adopted a carefully neutral position on what can be included on the official agenda.

Silva voiced support for the possibility of a roadmap, without directly pledging the country to it. The minister remarked: “When we have a situation that is quite grim, it is good that we have a map. But the map does not force us to proceed, or to climb.”

In an interview, the minister noted: “The map is an answer to our scientific knowledge [of the climate emergency]. It is an moral answer.”

Scores of countries meeting in Belém for the global climate conference, which is starting its next phase, are seeking to determine how a global phaseout of oil, gas, and coal could work. They aim to build on a historic resolution made two years ago at COP28 to “transition away from non-renewable energy sources.”

The pledge lacked a schedule or specifics on the way it could be achieved, and even though it was adopted unanimously, some countries have since attempted to disavow the promise. Efforts last year to expand on its real-world meaning were stymied by opposition from oil-dependent nations at COP29.

Consequently, there was no mention of the transition away from fossil fuels in the final agreement of that conference.

Because of this, Brazil has been cautious of calls by certain countries to include the transition on the schedule for the current summit. But Silva has worked hard behind the scenes to ensure the pledge could be talked about at the summit outside the official agenda.

She won over Brazil’s president, who made mention three times to the need to “shift from reliance on traditional energy” at the summit of world leaders that preceded the conference, and at the start of the summit.

“The issue is a matter that we understand at a certain time had to be put forward, because it is the sole way to address the problem from the source,” Marina Silva explained. “We recognise that it is not easy, and we must not sell false hopes. Bringing up the subject is brave, and I hope [to see] this courage from all, from producing nations and consumers.”

Brazil had not initiated the call for a phaseout, she clarified, because that had been done at the earlier summit. Rather, it was enabling the talks to occur in line with what certain nations desired. “We understand these subjects are delicate. We will give the chance to discuss it,” the minister said.

Time is insufficient at the summit to draw up a detailed plan, a task Silva called could take several years because numerous nations 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 raises the topic, because Brazil is both a producer and user,” she said. “But the nation is unique, because Brazil, if it chooses to, need not rely on fossil fuels. We have to understand that there are some that depend on fossil fuels in their economies and lack simple solutions, and others where fossil fuels are the foundation of their economy.

“To be just is to be fair to everyone, but the essential, primordial fairness is not being unfair to the Earth, because it is our home.”

Should the pledge receives sufficient support, COP30 could establish a platform in which the process of creating a roadmap to the phaseout could begin.

The process would involve discussions with all signatory countries to the UN framework convention on climate change and criteria for how the process would proceed, Silva said. “After we have criteria, a governance structure can be drawn up; after we have a plan, and establish protections to be able to build trust in the system, I am confident that with these components we can turn positive concepts into steps that are clearer, and more concrete.”

There is no guarantee that a proposal to begin drawing up a plan would be accepted at the conference, even if it does not require the official consent of the summit, which proceeds by consensus and can be hijacked by particular groups. Climate experts have indicated they believe there could be backing for such a idea from about 60 nations, but there are believed to be at least 40 against. There are 195 nations participating at the negotiations.

“In spite of being the root cause 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 backing a path to realizing worldwide phaseout is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

“Put simply, there’s no route to a planet where temperature rise stays below 1.5 degrees in which nations cannot to discuss fossil fuel phaseout.”

“We need this language for real in this conversation. It’s quite stupid that we talk about all topics but then when fossil fuels are the real problem.”

Discussions carried on on the weekend on several outstanding issues that have not yet been included into the formal agenda: commerce, transparency, funding and how to tackle the gap between the carbon reduction nations have proposed and those needed to hold to the 1.5-degree temperature target.

The COP30 chair promised a “note” that would cover these matters, after discussions – which have been underway since the start of the week – were inconclusive. The official urged nations to embrace the “mutirão” attitude, referring to one of collaboration and positive discussion.

Progress on additional substantive issues – such as adaptation to the effects of the climate crisis, the just transition for those affected by the transition to a low-carbon economic system and how to strengthen institutional capacity in less developed nations – proceeded productively, the host said.

Brazil’s chief negotiator said the technical phase of the summit proceedings was approaching the end, and the high-level phase – when government leaders who have the authority to alter their countries’ stances arrive – was beginning.