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The environment minister, the minister, has urged every country to show the bravery needed to confront the imperative of a global fossil fuel phaseout, describing the development of a roadmap as an “moral” response to the climate crisis.

She emphasized, though, that participation in this endeavor would be optional and “self-determined” for interested governments.

This issue remains one of the most debated matters at the COP30 in Brazil, with nations split over whether and how such a strategy can be addressed. As the host, Brazil has maintained a balanced stance on which items can be placed on the formal agenda.

Silva voiced approval for the possibility of a plan, without explicitly committing the country to it. The minister remarked: “When we have a terrain that is very challenging, it is good that we have a guide. But the map does not compel us to proceed, or to climb.”

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

Scores of countries meeting in the host city for the UN climate summit, which is entering its second week, are aiming to establish how a worldwide transition of fossil fuels could be implemented. These nations hope to advance a landmark resolution made two years ago at COP28 to “move away from fossil fuels.”

That pledge had no a schedule or details on the way it could be achieved, and even though it was adopted unanimously, some nations have later tried to back away from the promise. Attempts last year to expand on its real-world meaning were stymied by opposition from oil-dependent nations at another UN summit.

Consequently, there was no mention of the transition away from fossil fuels in the final agreement of COP29.

Because of this, the host has been cautious of calls by some countries to place the transition on the schedule for the current summit. But the minister has worked hard behind the scenes to make sure the topic could be discussed at the conference outside the formal agenda.

She won over Brazil’s president, and he made public reference repeatedly to the need to “move away from dependence on traditional energy” at the summit of world leaders that preceded the conference, and at the opening of the event.

“This is something that we know 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 acknowledge that it is challenging, and we must not sell unrealistic expectations. Raising the subject is courageous, and I hope [to see] this bravery from everyone, from producers and using countries.”

Brazil had not started the call for a phaseout, she clarified, because that had been done at the earlier summit. Instead, it was allowing the talks to take place in accordance with what some nations wished. “We know these subjects are delicate. We will provide the opportunity to discuss it,” she said.

There is not enough time at COP30 to draw up a roadmap, a task the minister called could take a number of years because numerous nations confronted complex issues around reliance on fossil fuels, or aimed to use the proceeds from exporting fossil fuels to finance their economic growth.

“The country brings up the topic, because it is simultaneously a producer and user,” the minister noted. “But the nation is unique, because it, if it wants to, need not depend on non-renewables. We have to recognise that there are some that depend on carbon energy in their economies and don’t have easy alternatives, and some where fossil fuels are the basis of their economic structure.

“To be fair is to be fair to everyone, but the essential, basic justice is to avoid being unfair to the planet, because it is our shared home.”

Should the proposal gains sufficient backing, the summit could set up a forum in which the process of creating a roadmap to the transition could begin.

The endeavor would require discussions with all participating nations to the UN climate treaty and guidelines for how the process would unfold, Silva explained. “Once we have criteria, a management framework can be drawn up; after we have a strategy, 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 steps that are clearer, and more concrete.”

It is uncertain that a suggestion to begin drawing up a roadmap 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 think there could be support for such a proposal from about sixty countries, but there are thought to be at least forty against. A total of one hundred ninety-five countries participating at the negotiations.

“In spite of being the primary source of global warming, fossil fuels are about the most contentious topic there is within the international climate talks, so to see a sizable coalition of countries openly backing a route to realizing global phaseout is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

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

“We need this language for real in this discussion. It’s highly illogical that we talk about all topics but that when the main issue are the actual problem.”

Discussions carried on on the weekend on four outstanding issues that have still not been incorporated into the official agenda: commerce, transparency, finance and how to tackle the shortfall between the carbon reduction nations have proposed and those needed to keep to the 1.5C temperature target.

The summit chair pledged a “document” that would cover these matters, after consultations – which have been going on since the start of the week – were inconclusive. He urged countries to adopt the “mutirão” spirit, meaning one of cooperation and positive dialogue.

Progress on other substantive issues – including adjustment to the impacts of the climate crisis, the just transition for those impacted by the transition to a green economic system and how to build institutional capacity in developing countries – proceeded constructively, the presidency said.

Brazil’s lead representative stated the technical part of the COP process was nearing the end, and the high-level phase – when ministers who have the authority to alter their nations' stances join – was starting.