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Brazil’s climate chief, the minister, has urged all nations to show the bravery needed to confront the imperative of a worldwide fossil fuel phaseout, labeling the creation of a roadmap as an “moral” response to the climate crisis.

She emphasized, though, that participation in this endeavor would be voluntary and “independently decided” for willing nations.

The topic stands as one of the most contentious matters at the COP30 in the host country, with countries divided over if and how such a roadmap can be discussed. As the host, the nation has maintained a balanced position on which items can be included on the formal agenda.

The official voiced approval for the potential of a plan, though not directly pledging the country to it. The minister remarked: “In times we have a situation that is very challenging, it is good that we have a guide. But the map does not force us to travel, or to advance.”

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

Dozens of countries gathered in Belém for the global climate conference, which is entering its next phase, are aiming to establish how a worldwide transition of oil, gas, and coal could work. They hope to advance a landmark resolution reached two years ago at a previous UN summit to “transition away from non-renewable energy sources.”

The commitment lacked a schedule or specifics on how it could be realized, and even though it was passed by all, several countries have since attempted to back away from the promise. Efforts last year to elaborate on its real-world meaning were blocked by opposition from petrostates at another UN summit.

Consequently, there was no reference of the shift away from carbon fuels in the final agreement of that conference.

Because of this, Brazil has been wary of calls by certain nations to include the transition on the schedule for COP30. But Silva has worked hard in private to make sure the pledge could be talked about at the summit outside the official program.

The minister convinced Brazil’s president, and he gave public reference three times to the need to “move away from reliance on fossil fuels” at the global leaders' meeting that preceded the conference, and at the start of the event.

“This is a matter that we understand at a certain time had to be raised, because it is the sole way to address the problem from the root,” the minister said. “We recognise that it is challenging, and we must not sell unrealistic expectations. Raising the topic is courageous, and I hope [to see] this courage from everyone, from producers and consumers.”

The nation had not started the call for a phaseout, the minister clarified, because that had been initiated at the earlier summit. Instead, it was enabling the talks to occur in line with what some countries wished. “We know these subjects are delicate. We will give the opportunity to discuss it,” she added.

There is not enough time at COP30 to draw up a roadmap, a process the minister said could take several years because many countries faced complicated issues around reliance on fossil fuels, or aimed to use the revenue from exporting fossil fuels to fund their development.

“Brazil raises the subject, because Brazil is simultaneously a producing nation and user,” she noted. “But Brazil is different, because it, if it wants to, does not have to 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 oil and gas are the foundation of their economic structure.

“To be just is to be fair to all, but the essential, basic justice is not being unjust to the Earth, because it is our home.”

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

This endeavor would involve discussions with all signatory countries to the UN climate treaty and guidelines for how the process would unfold, Silva said. “After we have criteria, a management framework can be developed; once we have a plan, and establish protections to be able to establish confidence in the system, I am confident that with these elements we can turn positive concepts into steps that are more defined, and more tangible.”

There is no guarantee that a suggestion to start drawing up a plan would win approval at COP30, even if it does not require the formal approval of the conference, which operates by consensus and can be disrupted by special interests. Climate experts have suggested they believe there could be support for such a proposal from about 60 nations, but there are believed to be at least 40 against. There are 195 countries participating at the talks.

“Despite 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 chunky coalition of countries openly supporting a route to realizing global phaseout is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

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

“We need this language for actual in this discussion. It’s quite stupid that we talk about everything but then when fossil fuels are the actual problem.”

Discussions continued on the weekend on several unresolved issues that have still not been included into the official agenda: commerce, openness, finance and how to address the shortfall between the emissions cuts countries have planned and those required to hold to the 1.5C temperature limit.

A summit chair pledged a “note” that would cover these matters, after discussions – which have been underway since Monday – were inconclusive. He urged nations to embrace the “mutirão” spirit, referring to one of cooperation and constructive dialogue.

Work on other key topics – such as adjustment to the effects of the climate emergency, the just transition for those affected by the move to a low-carbon economy and how to build institutional capacity in less developed nations – proceeded constructively, the presidency said.

The host nation's chief negotiator said the detailed part of the COP proceedings was approaching completion, and the high-level stage – when government leaders who have the power to change their countries’ stances arrive – was beginning.