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The environment minister, Marina Silva, has urged all nations to show the courage needed to address the imperative of a worldwide transition away from fossil fuels, labeling the creation of a detailed plan as an “ethical” answer to the global warming emergency.

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

The topic remains one of the most contentious matters at the COP30 in Brazil, with nations split over whether and how such a roadmap can be addressed. As the host, Brazil has maintained a carefully neutral stance on which items can be included on the formal agenda.

Silva expressed support for the potential of a roadmap, though not directly committing the country to it. She stated: “In times we have a situation that is very challenging, it is good that we have a guide. But the map does not force us to travel, or to advance.”

Speaking further, she noted: “The roadmap is an answer to our scientific knowledge [of the climate emergency]. It is an moral answer.”

Scores of countries meeting in the host city for the UN climate summit, which is starting its second week, are seeking to determine how a global phaseout of oil, gas, and coal could be implemented. These nations aim to build on a landmark resolution made two years ago at a previous UN summit to “transition away from fossil fuels.”

That commitment had no a schedule or specifics on the way it could be realized, and even though it was adopted by all, several countries have later attempted to back away from the pledge. Attempts last year to expand on its practical implications were stymied by resistance from petrostates at another UN summit.

Consequently, there was no mention of the transition away from fossil fuels in the outcome of that conference.

Because of this, the host has been wary of demands by certain countries to include the transition on the agenda for the current summit. But Silva has strived in private to ensure the topic could be talked about at the conference apart from the official agenda.

The minister won over the nation's president, and he gave public reference repeatedly to the need to “move away from dependence on fossil fuels” at the global leaders' meeting that preceded the conference, and at the start of the summit.

“The issue is a matter that we understand at a certain time had to be raised, because it is the only way to face the problem from the root,” the minister explained. “We acknowledge that it is not easy, and we cannot offer false hopes. Raising the subject is courageous, and I hope [to see] this bravery from everyone, from producers and using countries.”

Brazil had not initiated the call for a transition, she said, because that had been initiated at COP28. Instead, it was allowing the discussions to occur in line with what certain countries desired. “We understand these subjects are delicate. We will provide the opportunity to discuss it,” the minister added.

Time is insufficient at the summit to create a roadmap, a process Silva said could take several years because many nations faced complex issues around reliance on carbon-based energy, or wanted to use the proceeds from selling oil and gas to finance their development.

“Brazil raises the subject, because Brazil is simultaneously a producing nation and consumer,” she noted. “But the nation is different, because it, if it wants to, need not rely on fossil fuels. We have to recognise that there are certain nations that depend on carbon energy in their economic systems and lack simple solutions, and others where oil and gas are the foundation of their economy.

“To be fair is to be fair to everyone, but the fundamental, basic justice is not being unjust to the planet, because it is our shared home.”

If the pledge gains sufficient support, COP30 could set up a platform in which the process of creating a roadmap to the transition could begin.

The process would involve discussions with every signatory nations to the UN framework convention on climate change and guidelines for how the process would proceed, the minister explained. “Once we have criteria, a governance structure can be drawn up; after we have a strategy, and create protections to be able to build trust in the process, I believe that with these components we can transform good ideas into actions that are more defined, and more concrete.”

There is no guarantee that a suggestion to begin developing a roadmap would win approval at COP30, although it may not need the official consent of the conference, which operates by consensus and can be disrupted by special interests. Climate experts have indicated they believe there could be support for such a proposal from about 60 countries, but there are believed to be at least forty opposed. A total of one hundred ninety-five nations represented at the negotiations.

“In spite of being the root cause of climate change, fossil fuels are about the most divisive subject there is within the international climate talks, so to see a sizable coalition of nations publicly supporting a path to achieving worldwide transition is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

“Put simply, there’s no route to a world where warming stays below 1.5C in which nations aren’t able to discuss ending fossil fuel use.”

“We require this language for actual in this discussion. It’s highly illogical that we discuss all topics but that when the main issue are the real challenge.”

Negotiations continued on the weekend on four unresolved issues that have not yet been incorporated into the formal agenda: trade, transparency, funding and how to tackle the gap between the carbon reduction countries have planned and those required to hold to the 1.5-degree warming limit.

The COP30 chair pledged a “note” that would cover these issues, after discussions – which have been going on since the start of the week – were unresolved. He called on nations to adopt the “mutirão” attitude, meaning one of collaboration and positive dialogue.

Work on other substantive topics – including adaptation to the impacts of the climate crisis, the just transition for those affected by the move to a green economy and how to strengthen governance capabilities in less developed nations – proceeded constructively, the presidency said.

Brazil’s chief negotiator said the technical part of the COP process was nearing completion, and the high-level phase – when ministers who have the authority to change their countries’ stances arrive – was beginning.