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The environment minister, Marina Silva, has urged every country to demonstrate the bravery needed to address the imperative of a global fossil fuel phaseout, labeling the development of a detailed plan as an “moral” response to the climate crisis.

The minister stressed, however, that participation in this endeavor would be optional and “self-determined” for interested nations.

The topic stands as one of the most contentious subjects at the UN climate summit in Brazil, with nations divided over if and how such a strategy can be discussed. Hosting the event, Brazil has maintained a balanced position on which items can be placed on the formal agenda.

The official voiced support for the potential of a plan, though not directly committing Brazil to it. She remarked: “In times we have a terrain that is very challenging, it is good that we have a guide. But the map does not force us to proceed, or to advance.”

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

Dozens of nations gathered in Belém for the global climate conference, which is starting its next phase, are seeking to determine how a worldwide transition of oil, gas, and coal could be implemented. They aim to build on a landmark resolution reached two years ago at COP28 to “move away from non-renewable energy sources.”

The pledge had no a schedule or specifics on the way it could be achieved, and although it was adopted by all, several nations have later tried to back away from the promise. Efforts last year to expand on its practical implications were blocked by resistance from oil-dependent nations at another UN summit.

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

Because of this, Brazil has been cautious of demands by certain nations to include the transition on the agenda for COP30. But Silva has worked hard in private to ensure the topic could be talked about at the conference outside the official program.

The minister convinced Brazil’s president, who gave public reference three times to the need to “move away from dependence on traditional energy” at the global leaders' meeting that came before the conference, and at the opening of the summit.

“This is something that we understand at a certain time had to be raised, because it is the only way to address the issue from the root,” Marina Silva said. “We recognise that it is challenging, and we cannot sell false hopes. Raising the topic is courageous, and I hope [to see] this bravery from everyone, from producers and using countries.”

The nation had not initiated the push for a phaseout, she clarified, because that had been done at COP28. Instead, it was allowing the discussions to take place in accordance with what certain countries wished. “We understand these subjects are delicate. We will give the opportunity to talk about it,” she added.

There is not enough time at the summit to create a detailed plan, a process the minister said could take several years because many countries faced complicated issues around dependence on fossil fuels, or aimed to use the revenue from selling fossil fuels to finance their economic growth.

“The country raises the subject, because it is simultaneously a producing nation and user,” she said. “But the nation is unique, because it, if it chooses to, does not have to depend on non-renewables. We have to recognise that there are some that depend on fossil fuels in their economic systems and lack easy solutions, and some where fossil fuels are the foundation of their economic structure.

“To be fair is to be fair to all, but the fundamental, basic fairness is to avoid being unfair to the Earth, because it is our shared home.”

If the proposal gains enough backing, COP30 could establish a forum in which the process of drawing up a roadmap to the transition could start.

This endeavor would require dialogue with all participating countries to the UN framework convention on climate change and guidelines for how the initiative would proceed, the minister said. “Once we have standards, a management framework can be drawn up; once we have a plan, and establish protections to be able to build trust in the system, I am confident that with these elements we can turn positive concepts into actions that are clearer, and more tangible.”

There is no guarantee that a suggestion to start developing a plan would win approval at COP30, although it does not require the formal approval of the summit, which proceeds by consensus and can be disrupted by special interests. COP experts have suggested they believe there could be support for such a idea from about 60 countries, but there are thought to be at least forty opposed. A total of one hundred ninety-five countries represented at the negotiations.

“In spite of being the root cause of global warming, fossil fuels are about the most divisive subject there is within the international climate talks, so to see a sizable coalition of countries openly backing a route to achieving global transition is in itself highly significant.”

“Put simply, there’s no path to a world where warming remains below 1.5 degrees in which nations cannot to talk about fossil fuel phaseout.”

“We need this wording for real in this conversation. It’s highly illogical that we discuss everything but that when the main issue are the real problem.”

Discussions carried on on Saturday on several unresolved issues that have not yet been incorporated into the official schedule: commerce, transparency, funding and how to address the gap between the carbon reduction nations have planned and those required to keep to the 1.5C temperature target.

The summit chair promised a “note” that would cover these issues, after discussions – which have been underway since Monday – were unresolved. The official called on nations to embrace the “mutirão” attitude, meaning one of cooperation and constructive discussion.

Progress on additional key topics – such as adjustment to the effects of the climate crisis, the fair shift for those affected by the move to a low-carbon economic system and how to strengthen institutional capacity in less developed nations – carried on productively, the presidency said.

Brazil’s chief negotiator stated the technical phase of the summit process was nearing the end, and the high-level phase – when government leaders who have the power to change their nations' positions join – was starting.