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The environment minister, Marina Silva, has urged all nations to demonstrate the courage needed to address the necessity of a worldwide transition away from fossil fuels, describing the creation of a roadmap as an “moral” answer to the climate crisis.

She emphasized, though, that participation in this endeavor would be optional and “independently decided” for willing nations.

This issue remains one of the most contentious subjects at the UN climate summit in Brazil, with nations divided over whether and in what way such a strategy can be discussed. As the host, the nation has adopted a carefully neutral stance on which items can be placed on the formal agenda.

The official expressed support for the potential of a plan, though not directly pledging the country to it. She remarked: “In times we have a terrain that is quite grim, it is helpful that we have a map. But the map does not compel us to travel, or to climb.”

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

Dozens of nations meeting in the host city for the global climate conference, which is starting its second week, are seeking to determine how a worldwide phaseout of fossil fuels could be implemented. They hope to advance a landmark resolution reached two years ago at COP28 to “transition away from non-renewable energy sources.”

The pledge lacked a schedule or specifics on how it could be achieved, and although it was adopted by all, several countries have later tried to disavow the pledge. Attempts last year to expand on its real-world meaning were blocked by resistance from oil-dependent nations at another UN summit.

Consequently, there was no reference of the transition away from carbon fuels in the final agreement of that conference.

Because of this, the host has been wary of calls by certain countries to include the phaseout on the agenda for the current summit. But the minister has strived behind the scenes to make sure the pledge could be talked about at the summit apart from the official agenda.

The minister won over Brazil’s leader, and he gave public reference repeatedly to the need to “shift from dependence on fossil fuels” at the global leaders' meeting that preceded the conference, and at the start of the event.

“This is a matter that we know 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 recognise that it is challenging, and we cannot sell unrealistic expectations. Raising the topic is courageous, and I hope [to see] this courage from all, from producing nations and using countries.”

Brazil had not started the push for a transition, she said, because that had been initiated at the earlier summit. Rather, it was allowing the talks to take place in line with what certain nations desired. “We understand these topics are delicate. We will give the opportunity to discuss it,” the minister said.

Time is insufficient at COP30 to create a roadmap, a process the minister called could take several years because many countries confronted complicated challenges around dependence on fossil fuels, or aimed to use the proceeds from exporting oil and gas to fund their economic growth.

“The country raises the subject, because it is simultaneously a producer and user,” the minister noted. “But Brazil is different, because Brazil, if it wants to, need not rely on non-renewables. We have to recognise that there are some that depend on fossil fuels in their economies and don’t have easy solutions, and some where fossil fuels are the basis of their economy.

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

If the pledge gains sufficient support, COP30 could establish a forum in which the work of drawing up a strategy to the transition could start.

The process would involve discussions with every participating countries to the UN climate treaty and criteria for how the initiative would unfold, Silva said. “After we have criteria, a governance structure can be developed; after we have a plan, and create protections to be able to build confidence in the system, I believe that with these components we can turn good ideas into actions that are more defined, and more tangible.”

There is no guarantee that a suggestion to start developing a plan would be accepted at COP30, although it may not need the formal consent of the conference, which proceeds by consensus and can be disrupted by particular groups. COP experts have indicated they think there could be backing for such a proposal from about 60 countries, but there are thought to be at least 40 opposed. There are one hundred ninety-five nations represented at the talks.

“In spite of being the primary source of global warming, carbon-based energy are about the most contentious subject there is within the international climate talks, so to see a chunky group of countries publicly backing a route to realizing worldwide transition is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

“In simple terms, there’s no route to a world where warming remains below 1.5 degrees in which nations cannot to talk about ending fossil fuel use.”

“We need this language for actual in this conversation. It’s quite stupid that we talk about all topics but then when the main issue are the actual problem.”

Negotiations carried on on the weekend on four outstanding issues that have not yet been incorporated into the formal schedule: commerce, openness, finance and how to tackle the gap between the emissions cuts countries have proposed and those required to hold to the 1.5-degree warming limit.

The COP30 president promised a “document” that would address these issues, after discussions – which have been underway since the start of the week – were unresolved. The official called on nations to embrace the “mutirão” attitude, referring to one of cooperation and constructive discussion.

Progress on other key issues – including adjustment to the effects of the climate crisis, the just transition for those affected by the move to a low-carbon economic system and how to strengthen governance capabilities in developing countries – carried on constructively, the host said.

The host nation's lead representative stated the detailed part of the summit process was approaching the end, and the high-level stage – when ministers who have the power to change their countries’ positions join – was starting.