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The climate chief, Marina Silva, has urged every country to demonstrate the bravery needed to address the necessity of a global fossil fuel phaseout, 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 “self-determined” for interested governments.

This issue stands as one of the most debated subjects at the COP30 in the host country, with countries split over whether and in what way such a roadmap can be discussed. Hosting the event, the nation has maintained a carefully neutral position on what can be included on the formal schedule.

The official voiced support for the possibility of a roadmap, though not explicitly pledging Brazil to it. She stated: “When we have a situation that is very challenging, it is good that we have a map. But the map does not compel us to travel, or to climb.”

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

Dozens of nations meeting in Belém for the global climate conference, which is starting its second week, are aiming to establish how a global phaseout of oil, gas, and coal could work. They aim to advance a historic agreement reached two years ago at a previous UN summit to “transition away from fossil fuels.”

The commitment had no a timetable or details on the way it could be achieved, and even though it was adopted unanimously, some nations have since attempted to back away from the pledge. Attempts last year to expand on its practical meaning were stymied by resistance from oil-dependent nations at another UN summit.

As a result, there was no reference of the shift away from fossil fuels in the outcome of COP29.

Because of this, Brazil has been wary of calls by some nations to include the phaseout on the schedule for COP30. But Silva has worked hard in private to make sure the topic could be talked about at the summit outside the formal agenda.

She convinced Brazil’s leader, who gave mention repeatedly to the need to “shift from reliance on traditional energy” at the global leaders' meeting that came before the conference, and at the opening of the summit.

“The issue is a matter that we know at a certain time had to be put forward, because it is the sole way to address the problem from the root,” Marina Silva said. “We acknowledge that it is challenging, and we must not offer unrealistic expectations. Bringing up the topic is courageous, and I wish [to see] this courage from everyone, from producing nations and consumers.”

The nation had not initiated the call for a transition, she clarified, because that had been initiated at COP28. Instead, it was allowing the talks to occur in line with what some countries wished. “We understand these topics are delicate. We will provide the chance to talk about it,” the minister added.

Time is insufficient at the summit to draw up a detailed plan, a process the minister called could take several years because numerous countries faced complicated challenges around reliance on carbon-based energy, or aimed to use the revenue from exporting oil and gas to fund their development.

“The country brings up the subject, because it is both a producer and user,” the minister said. “But the nation is different, because it, if it chooses to, does not have to rely on fossil fuels. We have to understand that there are some that rely on carbon energy in their economic systems and lack easy solutions, and others where fossil fuels are the foundation of their economy.

“To be just is to be just to all, but the essential, primordial justice is to avoid being unjust to the Earth, because it is our shared home.”

If the pledge gains enough backing, COP30 could establish a forum in which the work of drawing up a strategy to the phaseout could begin.

The endeavor would involve dialogue with every signatory nations to the UN framework convention on climate change and guidelines for how the process would proceed, the minister said. “Once we have criteria, a management framework can be drawn up; after we have a strategy, and create safeguards to be able to establish confidence in the system, I believe that with these components we can turn positive concepts into steps that are more defined, and more concrete.”

There is no guarantee that a proposal to start drawing up a roadmap would win approval at COP30, although it may not need the official consent of the conference, which proceeds by unanimous agreement and can be disrupted by special interests. Climate experts have indicated they believe there could be support for such a proposal from about 60 nations, but there are thought to be at least forty against. There are one hundred ninety-five nations represented at the talks.

“Despite being the primary source of climate change, fossil fuels are about the most contentious topic there is within the international climate talks, so to see a sizable coalition of nations openly backing a path to realizing worldwide transition is in itself highly significant.”

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

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

Discussions carried on on the weekend on several unresolved issues that have still not been incorporated into the official schedule: commerce, openness, funding and how to address the shortfall between the carbon reduction countries have planned and those needed to hold to the 1.5C temperature limit.

The COP30 chair promised a “document” that would cover these matters, after consultations – which have been going on since Monday – were inconclusive. The official called on countries to embrace the “mutirão” attitude, referring to one of cooperation and positive dialogue.

Work on additional substantive issues – such as adjustment to the effects of the climate emergency, the just transition for those impacted by the transition to a green economy and how to strengthen institutional capacity in developing countries – proceeded constructively, the presidency reported.

Brazil’s lead representative said the detailed part of the COP proceedings was nearing the end, and the political phase – when government leaders who have the authority to change their nations' positions join – was beginning.