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Brazil’s climate chief, the minister, has called on all nations to show the bravery needed to address the necessity of a global fossil fuel phaseout, labeling the development of a detailed plan as an “moral” answer to the climate crisis.

She emphasized, however, that participation in this process would be voluntary and “independently decided” for interested nations.

This issue stands as one of the most contentious matters at the COP30 in the host country, with nations split over if and in what way such a roadmap can be discussed. As the host, Brazil has adopted a balanced position on what can be included on the official schedule.

The official voiced support for the potential of a roadmap, without explicitly pledging Brazil to it. She stated: “When we have a situation that is very challenging, it is helpful that we have a map. But the guide does not force us to travel, or to advance.”

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

Dozens of countries meeting in Belém for the UN climate summit, which is starting its next phase, are seeking to determine how a global phaseout of fossil fuels could work. They hope to build on a landmark resolution made two years ago at COP28 to “transition away from fossil fuels.”

The commitment had no a schedule or details on how it could be realized, and although it was passed by all, several nations have since attempted to disavow the pledge. Efforts last year to elaborate on its real-world implications were blocked by resistance from petrostates at another UN summit.

As a result, there was no mention of the transition away from fossil fuels in the final agreement of that conference.

Because of this, Brazil has been wary of demands by some countries to include the transition on the schedule for the current summit. But Silva has worked hard in private to ensure the pledge could be discussed at the summit outside the official program.

She won over Brazil’s president, who gave public reference three times to the need to “shift from dependence on fossil fuels” at the summit of world leaders that came before the conference, and at the start of the event.

“This is something that we understand at a certain time had to be put forward, because it is the sole way to face the issue from the source,” the minister said. “We acknowledge that it is challenging, and we cannot offer false hopes. Bringing up the subject is courageous, and I wish [to see] this bravery from everyone, from producing nations and consumers.”

Brazil had not initiated the push for a transition, she said, because that had been done at COP28. Rather, it was allowing the talks to take place in accordance with what certain nations wished. “We know these topics are sensitive. We will give the opportunity to talk about it,” the minister said.

There is not enough time at COP30 to create a detailed plan, a process Silva called could take several years because many nations faced complicated issues around reliance on carbon-based energy, or aimed to use the proceeds from selling oil and gas to fund their economic growth.

“Brazil brings up the subject, because Brazil is both a producing nation and consumer,” the minister said. “But the nation is different, because Brazil, if it chooses to, need not depend on non-renewables. We have to understand that there are certain nations that rely on carbon energy in their economic systems and lack easy alternatives, and some where oil and gas are the foundation of their economy.

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

If the proposal receives sufficient support, COP30 could establish a platform in which the process of creating a roadmap to the transition could begin.

This process would involve dialogue with all participating nations to the UN framework convention on climate change and guidelines for how the process would proceed, the minister explained. “Once we have standards, a management framework can be developed; once we have a plan, and create safeguards to be able to build trust in the system, I believe that with these elements we can transform positive concepts into actions that are clearer, and more tangible.”

It is uncertain that a proposal to begin developing a roadmap would be accepted at COP30, 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 experts have suggested they believe there could be support for such a idea from about sixty nations, but there are believed to be at least forty opposed. A total of 195 countries participating at the negotiations.

“In spite of being the root cause of climate change, fossil fuels are about the most contentious subject there is within the UN negotiations, so to see a sizable group of countries publicly backing a path to realizing worldwide phaseout is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

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

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

Negotiations continued on the weekend on several unresolved issues that have not yet been included into the formal agenda: commerce, transparency, finance and how to address the gap between the emissions cuts countries have planned and those required to keep to the 1.5-degree warming limit.

A COP30 chair promised a “note” that would address these matters, after consultations – which have been underway since the start of the week – were unresolved. He urged nations to embrace the “mutirão” attitude, meaning one of cooperation and constructive dialogue.

Progress on additional substantive topics – including adjustment to the effects of the climate emergency, the fair shift for those impacted by the move to a low-carbon economy and how to build institutional capacity in less developed nations – carried on productively, the presidency reported.

The host nation's lead representative stated the detailed part of the COP proceedings was nearing completion, and the high-level phase – when government leaders who have the power to alter their nations' stances join – was starting.