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Brazil’s climate chief, the minister, has urged every country to show the bravery needed to address the necessity of a global fossil fuel phaseout, labeling the development of a detailed plan as an “moral” response to the climate crisis.

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

This issue remains one of the most contentious matters at the UN climate summit in the host country, with countries divided over whether and how such a roadmap can be addressed. As the host, the nation has maintained a balanced stance on which items can be included on the official schedule.

The official expressed approval for the possibility of a plan, though not explicitly committing Brazil to it. She remarked: “In times we have a terrain that is quite grim, it is good that we have a guide. But the guide does not force us to travel, or to climb.”

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

Dozens of countries meeting in the host city for the UN climate summit, which is starting its next phase, are aiming to establish how a global phaseout of oil, gas, and coal could be implemented. They aim to build on a historic resolution made two years ago at a previous UN summit to “move away from non-renewable energy sources.”

The pledge had no a timetable or specifics on the way it could be achieved, and even though it was passed unanimously, several nations have since attempted to back away from the promise. Attempts last year to elaborate on its real-world meaning were stymied by opposition from oil-dependent nations at COP29.

As a result, there was no reference of the transition away from fossil fuels in the final agreement of COP29.

For these reasons, the host has been cautious of demands by certain countries to include the phaseout on the agenda for COP30. But Silva has worked hard behind the scenes to make sure the pledge could be discussed at the summit apart from the official agenda.

She convinced Brazil’s leader, who gave mention repeatedly to the need to “move away from dependence on traditional energy” at the summit of world leaders that preceded COP30, and at the opening of the event.

“This is something that we know at some point had to be raised, because it is the only way to face the issue from the root,” Marina Silva explained. “We acknowledge that it is challenging, and we must not sell unrealistic expectations. Raising the subject is brave, and I hope [to see] this courage from everyone, from producing nations and using countries.”

Brazil had not initiated the call for a phaseout, she clarified, because that had been initiated at the earlier summit. Rather, it was enabling the discussions to take place in accordance with what certain countries desired. “We know these subjects are sensitive. We will give the opportunity to talk about it,” she added.

There is not enough time at COP30 to create a roadmap, a task the minister called could take several years because many nations faced complicated issues around dependence on fossil fuels, or aimed to use the revenue from selling oil and gas to finance their economic growth.

“The country brings up the topic, because Brazil is simultaneously a producer and consumer,” she noted. “But Brazil is different, because Brazil, if it chooses to, need not depend on fossil fuels. We have to recognise that there are some that depend on carbon energy in their economies and lack simple alternatives, and some where oil and gas are the basis of their economic structure.

“To be fair is to be just to all, but the fundamental, basic fairness is not being unjust to the planet, because it is our shared home.”

If the proposal gains enough support, the summit could set up a forum in which the process of drawing up a roadmap to the transition could start.

This process would involve dialogue with all participating countries to the UN framework convention on climate change and criteria for how the initiative would proceed, the minister explained. “After we have criteria, a governance structure can be drawn up; once we have a plan, and establish safeguards to be able to establish confidence in the system, I am confident that with these elements we can turn positive concepts into actions that are clearer, and more concrete.”

There is no guarantee that a proposal to begin drawing up a roadmap would be accepted at the conference, although it may not need the formal approval of the conference, which operates 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 thought to be at least forty against. A total of one hundred ninety-five countries represented at the negotiations.

“Despite being the primary source of global warming, carbon-based energy are about the most contentious subject there is within the UN negotiations, so to see a sizable group of nations publicly supporting a route to realizing global transition is in itself highly significant.”

“In simple terms, there’s no path to a planet where warming remains below 1.5 degrees in which nations aren’t able to talk about ending fossil fuel use.”

“We require this language for actual in this discussion. It’s quite stupid that we discuss all topics but then when the main issue are the actual problem.”

Negotiations carried on on the weekend on four outstanding issues that have still not been incorporated into the official schedule: commerce, openness, funding and how to tackle the gap between the emissions cuts nations have planned and those required to hold to the 1.5C temperature target.

The COP30 president promised a “note” that would cover these matters, after discussions – which have been going on since Monday – were unresolved. The official called on nations to embrace the “mutirão” spirit, meaning one of cooperation and positive dialogue.

Work on additional key issues – such as adjustment to the effects of the climate crisis, the fair shift for those affected by the transition to a low-carbon economy and how to strengthen governance capabilities in developing countries – proceeded productively, the host said.

Brazil’s lead representative said the detailed part of the summit proceedings was nearing the end, and the political stage – when ministers who have the authority to alter their nations' stances arrive – was beginning.