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The climate chief, Marina Silva, has called on all nations to demonstrate the bravery needed to confront the necessity of a global transition away from fossil fuels, labeling the creation of a roadmap as an “ethical” answer to the global warming emergency.

The minister stressed, though, that involvement in this process would be optional and “independently decided” for willing governments.

This issue remains one of the most debated matters at the COP30 in Brazil, with nations split over whether and in what way such a roadmap can be discussed. As the host, Brazil has maintained a carefully neutral position on what can be placed on the formal schedule.

The official expressed approval for the potential of a roadmap, without explicitly pledging the country to it. She stated: “In times we have a situation that is very challenging, it is helpful that we have a map. But the map does not force us to proceed, or to climb.”

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

Scores of nations gathered in the host city for the UN climate summit, which is entering its second week, are aiming to establish how a worldwide transition of oil, gas, and coal could work. These nations aim to advance a historic agreement made two years ago at a previous UN summit to “transition away from fossil fuels.”

The commitment lacked a timetable or specifics on the way it could be achieved, and although it was adopted unanimously, several nations have later attempted to back away from the promise. Attempts last year to elaborate on its practical meaning were stymied by resistance from petrostates at COP29.

As a result, there was no reference of the transition away from fossil fuels in the outcome of COP29.

Because of this, Brazil has been wary of demands by some countries to include the phaseout on the agenda for the current summit. But the minister has worked hard in private to make sure the pledge could be talked about at the conference apart from the formal agenda.

The minister won over Brazil’s leader, and he made public reference repeatedly to the need to “move away from reliance 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 understand at a certain time had to be raised, because it is the sole way to address the issue from the source,” the minister explained. “We acknowledge that it is challenging, and we cannot sell unrealistic expectations. Raising the topic is courageous, and I wish [to see] this bravery from all, from producing nations and using countries.”

Brazil had not started the push for a phaseout, the minister clarified, because that had been done at the earlier summit. Instead, it was allowing the talks to take place in accordance with what certain countries desired. “We know these subjects are delicate. We will provide the opportunity to talk about it,” she said.

Time is insufficient at the summit to create a roadmap, a process the minister said could take several years because many nations confronted complicated challenges around dependence on fossil fuels, or wanted to use the proceeds from selling oil and gas to finance their development.

“Brazil brings up the topic, because it is both a producing nation and user,” the minister said. “But Brazil is unique, because it, if it chooses to, need not depend on fossil fuels. We have to recognise that there are certain nations that depend on fossil fuels in their economic systems and don’t have easy alternatives, and some where fossil fuels are the foundation of their economy.

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

Should the pledge gains enough backing, COP30 could set up a forum in which the work of drawing up a strategy to the phaseout could start.

This endeavor would require discussions with every signatory countries to the UN framework convention on climate change and guidelines for how the initiative would proceed, the minister said. “Once we have criteria, a governance structure can be drawn up; once we have a plan, and establish safeguards to be able to build trust in the process, I am confident that with these elements we can transform positive concepts into steps that are more defined, and more concrete.”

It is uncertain that a proposal to start drawing up a plan would be accepted at the conference, even if it does not require the formal approval of the summit, which proceeds by consensus and can be disrupted by particular groups. Climate experts have suggested they believe there could be backing for such a idea from about 60 countries, but there are believed to be at least forty opposed. There are 195 nations represented at the negotiations.

“Despite being the primary source of climate change, carbon-based energy are about the most divisive topic there is within the UN negotiations, so to see a chunky coalition of nations openly backing a route to realizing global transition is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

“In simple terms, there’s no route to a planet where warming remains below 1.5C in which nations aren’t able to talk about ending fossil fuel use.”

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

Negotiations carried on on the weekend on several unresolved topics that have still not been incorporated into the formal schedule: commerce, transparency, funding and how to tackle the shortfall between the carbon reduction nations have proposed and those required to hold to the 1.5-degree temperature target.

The summit president promised a “note” that would address these issues, after consultations – which have been underway since the start of the week – were inconclusive. He called on countries to embrace the “mutirão” spirit, referring to one of collaboration and constructive discussion.

Work on other substantive topics – such as adaptation to the effects of the climate emergency, the fair shift for those affected by the transition to a low-carbon economic system and how to strengthen governance capabilities in less developed nations – proceeded productively, the presidency reported.

Brazil’s lead representative stated the detailed part of the COP proceedings was nearing completion, and the political phase – when ministers who have the power to alter their countries’ stances join – was starting.