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Brazil’s climate chief, the minister, has called on every country to demonstrate the courage needed to address the imperative of a worldwide fossil fuel phaseout, describing the development of a roadmap as an “ethical” response to the climate crisis.

The minister emphasized, though, that participation in this endeavor would be voluntary and “self-determined” for willing nations.

This issue stands as one of the most debated matters at the UN climate summit in Brazil, with nations divided over whether and in what way such a roadmap can be addressed. As the host, Brazil has maintained a carefully neutral position on what can be placed on the formal schedule.

Silva voiced support for the potential of a plan, though not explicitly committing the country to it. She stated: “In times we have a terrain that is quite grim, it is good that we have a guide. But the map does not force us to travel, or to climb.”

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

Scores of nations meeting in the host city for the global climate conference, which is starting its second week, are aiming to establish how a worldwide phaseout of fossil fuels could be implemented. They aim to build on a historic resolution made two years ago at a previous UN summit to “move away from fossil fuels.”

The commitment had no a schedule or details on the way it could be achieved, and even though it was adopted by all, some countries have later tried to disavow the promise. Attempts last year to expand on its practical meaning were blocked by resistance from petrostates 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 calls by certain countries to place the phaseout on the agenda for COP30. But Silva has worked hard in private to make sure the pledge could be talked about at the summit outside the formal program.

The minister won over Brazil’s president, and he gave mention three times to the need to “shift from reliance on fossil fuels” at the global leaders' meeting that preceded the conference, and at the start of the summit.

“The issue is something that we know at some point had to be put forward, because it is the sole way to face the issue from the source,” the minister said. “We recognise that it is challenging, and we cannot sell false hopes. Raising the topic is brave, and I hope [to see] this bravery from all, from producers and using countries.”

Brazil had not initiated the call for a transition, the minister clarified, because that had been initiated at COP28. Instead, it was enabling the discussions to occur in line with what some countries desired. “We know these topics are sensitive. We will give the opportunity to discuss it,” she said.

There is not enough time at the summit to create a roadmap, a task the minister called could take several years because numerous nations confronted complex issues around dependence on carbon-based energy, or aimed to use the proceeds from exporting fossil fuels to fund their development.

“Brazil brings up the topic, because Brazil is simultaneously a producer and consumer,” the minister noted. “But Brazil is unique, because it, if it chooses to, need not rely on fossil fuels. We have to recognise that there are certain nations that depend on fossil fuels in their economic systems and lack simple solutions, and some where fossil fuels are the foundation of their economic structure.

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

If the proposal receives enough backing, the summit could establish a platform in which the work of creating a roadmap to the phaseout could start.

The endeavor would require discussions with every participating countries to the UN climate treaty and guidelines for how the initiative would unfold, the minister explained. “Once we have criteria, a management framework can be drawn up; after we have a plan, and create safeguards to be able to build trust in the system, I am confident that with these elements we can transform positive concepts into actions that are more defined, and more tangible.”

There is no guarantee that a proposal to start developing a plan would win approval at the conference, even if it may not need the official approval of the conference, which proceeds by consensus and can be hijacked by particular groups. COP experts have indicated they believe there could be backing for such a idea from about sixty countries, but there are thought to be at least forty against. There are one hundred ninety-five countries participating at the negotiations.

“Despite being the root cause of climate change, carbon-based energy are about the most contentious subject there is within the international climate talks, so to see a chunky group of countries openly backing a path to realizing worldwide transition is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

“Put simply, there’s no path to a world where temperature rise remains below 1.5 degrees in which countries cannot to talk about ending fossil fuel use.”

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

Negotiations continued on the weekend on four unresolved topics that have not yet been included into the official agenda: commerce, openness, finance and how to tackle the gap between the emissions cuts nations have proposed and those needed to hold to the 1.5C warming target.

A summit president pledged a “document” that would cover these issues, after discussions – which have been going on since the start of the week – were inconclusive. The official urged nations to embrace the “mutirão” spirit, meaning one of collaboration and positive discussion.

Progress on additional key issues – including adaptation to the impacts of the climate crisis, the fair shift for those impacted by the move to a low-carbon economic system and how to build institutional capacity in less developed nations – carried on constructively, the presidency reported.

Brazil’s lead representative stated the detailed phase of the COP proceedings was approaching the end, and the high-level phase – when government leaders who have the authority to alter their nations' stances arrive – was starting.