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

She emphasized, however, that involvement in this process would be optional and “independently decided” for willing nations.

The topic remains one of the most contentious matters at the COP30 in the host country, with countries split over whether and how such a roadmap can be discussed. As the host, the nation has maintained a balanced position on what can be placed on the official schedule.

The official expressed approval for the possibility of a plan, without directly committing Brazil to it. The minister stated: “When we have a terrain that is quite grim, it is helpful that we have a guide. But the guide does not compel us to travel, or to advance.”

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

Dozens of nations gathered in Belém for the global climate conference, which is entering its second week, are aiming to establish how a global phaseout of oil, gas, and coal could work. They aim to advance a historic resolution made two years ago at COP28 to “transition away from non-renewable energy sources.”

The pledge had no a timetable or specifics on the way it could be realized, and even though it was adopted by all, some nations have later tried to back away from the pledge. Attempts 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 transition away from carbon fuels in the final agreement of that conference.

For these reasons, the host has been wary of demands by certain countries to include the phaseout on the agenda for COP30. But the minister has strived in private to make sure the topic could be discussed at the summit apart from the official program.

The minister won over Brazil’s leader, who made mention repeatedly to the need to “move away from reliance on fossil fuels” at the summit of world leaders that came before the conference, and at the start of the event.

“The issue is a matter that we know at a certain time had to be raised, because it is the sole way to face the problem from the source,” the minister explained. “We recognise that it is not easy, and we must not offer false hopes. Raising the topic is brave, and I hope [to see] this courage from everyone, from producers and using countries.”

The nation had not initiated the call for a transition, she clarified, because that had been done at the earlier summit. Instead, it was allowing the talks to occur in line with what certain countries desired. “We understand these topics are sensitive. We will provide the opportunity to talk about it,” the minister added.

Time is insufficient at COP30 to draw up a roadmap, a task Silva said could take a number of years because numerous nations faced complicated issues around reliance on fossil fuels, or wanted to use the revenue from exporting fossil fuels to finance their development.

“The country brings up the topic, because Brazil is both a producer and consumer,” the minister said. “But the nation is unique, because it, if it wants to, does not have to rely on non-renewables. We have to understand that there are some that depend on carbon energy in their economic systems and lack easy alternatives, and others where fossil fuels are the foundation of their economic structure.

“To be just is to be fair to all, but the fundamental, basic fairness is not being unjust to the planet, because it is our home.”

If the proposal receives enough backing, the summit could establish a forum in which the work of drawing up a strategy to the transition could begin.

This endeavor would involve dialogue with every participating nations to the UN climate treaty and guidelines for how the process would unfold, the minister said. “Once we have standards, a management framework can be drawn up; after we have a plan, and establish protections to be able to establish confidence in the process, I am confident that with these components we can turn good ideas into actions that are more defined, and more tangible.”

It is uncertain that a proposal to begin drawing up a plan would be accepted at the conference, even if it does not require the formal consent of the summit, which proceeds by unanimous agreement and can be hijacked by particular groups. COP analysts have suggested they believe there could be backing for such a proposal from about 60 countries, but there are thought to be at least forty opposed. There are 195 countries participating at the talks.

“Despite being the primary source of climate change, carbon-based energy are about the most divisive subject there is within the UN negotiations, so to see a sizable group of nations publicly backing a route to achieving global phaseout is in itself highly significant.”

“Put simply, there’s no route to a world where warming remains below 1.5 degrees in which countries cannot to discuss fossil fuel phaseout.”

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

Negotiations continued on the weekend on several unresolved topics that have still not been incorporated into the formal schedule: trade, transparency, funding and how to tackle the shortfall between the emissions cuts nations have proposed and those needed to hold to the 1.5-degree warming limit.

The COP30 chair promised 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 countries to embrace the “mutirão” attitude, referring to one of collaboration and positive discussion.

Progress on other key issues – including adaptation to the effects of the climate emergency, the fair shift for those affected by the transition to a low-carbon economy and how to strengthen governance capabilities in less developed nations – carried on constructively, the host said.

Brazil’s lead representative said the technical phase of the COP process was nearing the end, and the political stage – when ministers who have the power to alter their nations' positions arrive – was beginning.