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Brazil’s environment minister, the minister, has urged all nations to demonstrate the courage needed to address the necessity of a global fossil fuel phaseout, labeling the development of a roadmap as an “ethical” response to the global warming emergency.

The minister emphasized, though, that participation in this endeavor would be optional and “independently decided” for willing nations.

This issue remains one of the most contentious subjects at the UN climate summit in Brazil, with nations split over if and in what way such a roadmap can be addressed. As the host, the nation has maintained a balanced stance on what can be placed on the official schedule.

The official expressed support for the potential of a roadmap, though not explicitly committing Brazil to it. The minister stated: “When we have a terrain that is very challenging, it is helpful that we have a guide. But the map does not compel us to proceed, or to advance.”

Speaking further, she added: “The roadmap is an answer to our scientific knowledge [of the climate crisis]. It is an ethical answer.”

Scores of nations meeting in Belém for the global climate conference, which is entering its second week, are aiming to determine how a worldwide phaseout of fossil fuels could work. They aim to build on a historic resolution reached two years ago at a previous UN summit to “transition away from non-renewable energy sources.”

That commitment had no a timetable or specifics on how it could be realized, and although it was passed unanimously, several nations have later tried to back away from the pledge. Efforts last year to elaborate on its practical implications were blocked by resistance from oil-dependent nations at COP29.

Consequently, there was no mention of the shift away from carbon fuels in the outcome of that conference.

For these reasons, Brazil has been wary of demands by some nations to place the phaseout on the schedule for COP30. But the minister has strived behind the scenes to ensure the pledge could be discussed at the conference apart from the official program.

The minister won over Brazil’s president, and he made mention three times to the need to “move away from reliance on traditional energy” at the summit of world leaders that came before COP30, and at the start of the event.

“This is something that we understand at some point had to be raised, because it is the sole way to address the problem from the root,” Marina Silva explained. “We recognise that it is not easy, and we cannot offer unrealistic expectations. Bringing up the subject is courageous, and I wish [to see] this bravery from all, from producing nations and consumers.”

Brazil had not initiated the push for a phaseout, the minister clarified, because that had been initiated at the earlier summit. Instead, it was enabling the discussions to take place in accordance with what some nations wished. “We know these topics are sensitive. We will give the chance to discuss it,” she added.

There is not enough time at COP30 to create a roadmap, a process the minister called could take several years because many countries confronted complicated issues around dependence on carbon-based energy, or aimed to use the proceeds from exporting fossil fuels to fund their economic growth.

“Brazil raises the subject, because it is both a producing nation and user,” the minister noted. “But Brazil is unique, because Brazil, if it wants to, does not have to rely on fossil fuels. We have to recognise that there are certain nations that depend on carbon energy in their economic systems and lack simple alternatives, and others where fossil fuels are the basis of their economy.

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

Should the pledge gains sufficient backing, the summit could set up a forum in which the work of creating a roadmap to the transition could begin.

The process would involve discussions with every participating nations to the UN framework convention on climate change and guidelines for how the initiative would unfold, Silva said. “After we have standards, a governance structure can be drawn up; once we have a plan, and create protections to be able to build confidence in the system, I am confident that with these elements we can transform good ideas into actions that are clearer, and more tangible.”

There is no guarantee that a proposal to start drawing up a roadmap would win approval at COP30, although it does not require the formal consent of the conference, which operates by unanimous agreement and can be disrupted by special interests. Climate experts have indicated they think there could be support for such a proposal from about sixty countries, but there are thought to be at least 40 opposed. There are one hundred ninety-five nations represented at the negotiations.

“Despite being the primary source of global warming, fossil fuels are about the most divisive topic there is within the international climate talks, so to see a chunky coalition of countries publicly backing a route to achieving global transition is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

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

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

Discussions carried on on Saturday on four unresolved issues that have still not been included into the official schedule: trade, transparency, finance and how to address the gap between the carbon reduction nations have proposed and those required to hold to the 1.5C warming limit.

A summit president promised a “note” that would cover these matters, after discussions – which have been underway since the start of the week – were inconclusive. He urged countries to embrace the “mutirão” spirit, referring to one of collaboration and constructive discussion.

Work on other key issues – including adaptation to the impacts of the climate emergency, the just transition for those affected by the transition to a low-carbon economic system and how to build governance capabilities in developing countries – proceeded constructively, the presidency reported.

The host nation's chief negotiator said the detailed part of the COP proceedings was approaching the end, and the political phase – when government leaders who have the authority to alter their countries’ stances arrive – was starting.