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

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

This issue remains one of the most contentious matters at the COP30 in Brazil, with nations split over whether and in what way such a roadmap can be addressed. Hosting the event, the nation has adopted a balanced position on what can be placed on the formal schedule.

Silva expressed approval for the possibility of a plan, without explicitly pledging Brazil to it. She remarked: “When we have a situation that is quite grim, it is helpful that we have a guide. But the guide does not compel us to proceed, or to climb.”

Speaking further, the minister added: “The map is an answer to our scientific knowledge [of the climate crisis]. It is an moral response.”

Scores of countries gathered in the host city for the UN climate summit, which is entering its next phase, are aiming to establish how a global transition of oil, gas, and coal could work. These nations aim to build on a historic agreement made two years ago at COP28 to “move away from fossil fuels.”

That pledge had no a timetable or specifics on how it could be achieved, and although it was passed unanimously, several nations have later tried to disavow the pledge. Efforts last year to expand on its real-world implications were blocked by opposition from petrostates at another UN summit.

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

Because of this, the host has been cautious of calls by certain countries to place the phaseout on the schedule for the current summit. But the minister has strived in private to ensure the topic could be discussed at the conference outside the official program.

She won over the nation's leader, who gave mention three times to the need to “shift from reliance on fossil fuels” at the summit of world leaders that came before COP30, and at the opening of the summit.

“This is a matter that we understand at a certain time had to be put forward, because it is the sole way to face the problem from the root,” the minister said. “We recognise that it is challenging, and we cannot sell unrealistic expectations. Raising the topic is courageous, and I hope [to see] this bravery from all, from producing nations and using countries.”

Brazil had not initiated the push for a phaseout, the minister clarified, because that had been initiated at the earlier summit. Rather, it was allowing the talks to occur in accordance with what certain nations desired. “We understand these subjects are sensitive. We will provide the chance to discuss it,” she added.

There is not enough time at the summit to draw up a roadmap, a task Silva said could take several years because numerous countries confronted complicated issues around dependence on fossil fuels, or wanted to use the revenue from selling oil and gas to fund their economic growth.

“Brazil brings up the topic, because it is both a producing nation and consumer,” she noted. “But the nation is different, because it, if it chooses to, need not rely on non-renewables. We have to recognise that there are certain nations that rely on fossil fuels in their economic systems and don’t have easy solutions, and others where fossil fuels are the basis of their economy.

“To be just is to be fair to all, but the fundamental, primordial justice is to avoid being unfair to the planet, because it is our shared home.”

Should the proposal gains enough support, COP30 could establish a platform in which the work of creating a roadmap to the transition could start.

This process would require discussions with every signatory nations to the UN framework convention on climate change and criteria 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 establish safeguards to be able to build trust in the system, I am confident that with these components we can turn good ideas into steps that are clearer, and more tangible.”

There is no guarantee that a suggestion to start drawing up a roadmap would be accepted at the conference, even if it may not need the official approval of the conference, which proceeds by unanimous agreement and can be hijacked by special interests. COP experts have indicated they believe there could be support for such a proposal from about 60 nations, but there are believed to be at least forty opposed. There are one hundred ninety-five nations represented at the talks.

“In spite of being the root cause of climate change, fossil fuels are about the most divisive topic there is within the international climate talks, so to see a sizable group of nations publicly supporting a route to achieving global phaseout is in itself highly significant.”

“Put simply, there’s no route to a world where warming stays below 1.5C in which nations cannot to talk about ending fossil fuel use.”

“We require this wording for real in this conversation. It’s highly illogical that we talk about everything but then when fossil fuels are the real problem.”

Discussions carried on on Saturday on several unresolved issues that have not yet been incorporated into the formal agenda: trade, openness, funding and how to tackle the shortfall between the emissions cuts countries have planned and those needed to keep to the 1.5C temperature target.

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

Work on other key topics – such as adjustment to the effects of the climate emergency, the fair shift for those impacted by the move to a green economy and how to build institutional capacity in developing countries – proceeded productively, the presidency said.

Brazil’s chief negotiator said the technical part of the summit process was approaching the end, and the political phase – when ministers who have the authority to alter their countries’ stances join – was beginning.