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The climate chief, Marina Silva, has called on every country to demonstrate the courage needed to confront the imperative of a global transition away from fossil fuels, labeling the creation of a roadmap as an “ethical” response to the global warming emergency.

She emphasized, however, that involvement in this process would be optional and “self-determined” for willing nations.

This issue remains one of the most debated subjects at the COP30 in Brazil, with nations divided over whether and in what way such a roadmap can be discussed. As the host, Brazil has adopted a carefully neutral stance on which items can be included on the official schedule.

The official voiced support for the potential of a plan, though not directly pledging Brazil to it. The minister remarked: “When we have a situation that is very challenging, it is good that we have a guide. But the map does not force us to proceed, or to advance.”

Speaking further, the minister noted: “The map is an answer to our scientific knowledge [of the climate emergency]. It is an ethical response.”

Scores of countries gathered in Belém 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. They aim to advance a landmark resolution reached two years ago at a previous UN summit to “transition away from non-renewable energy sources.”

That commitment lacked a schedule or details on the way it could be realized, and even though it was passed by all, several countries have since attempted to disavow the pledge. Efforts last year to elaborate on its practical meaning were stymied by opposition from oil-dependent nations at another UN summit.

As a result, there was no reference of the transition away from carbon fuels in the outcome of that conference.

Because of this, the host has been cautious of demands by certain nations to include the phaseout on the agenda for the current summit. But the minister has worked hard behind the scenes to ensure the topic could be discussed at the summit apart from the official program.

She won over Brazil’s president, who gave public reference three times to the need to “shift from reliance on fossil fuels” at the summit of world leaders that preceded COP30, and at the start of the event.

“The issue is a matter that we understand at some point had to be put forward, because it is the sole way to address the problem from the root,” the minister said. “We recognise that it is not easy, and we must not offer unrealistic expectations. Bringing up the topic is courageous, and I hope [to see] this bravery from everyone, from producers and consumers.”

The nation had not initiated the call for a transition, she said, because that had been initiated at COP28. Rather, it was allowing the discussions to take place in accordance with what some nations wished. “We understand these subjects are sensitive. We will provide the opportunity to discuss it,” the minister added.

There is not enough time at the summit to draw up a detailed plan, a task the minister said could take several years because numerous nations confronted complex issues around dependence on carbon-based energy, or aimed to use the revenue from exporting oil and gas to fund their economic growth.

“The country raises the topic, because it is both a producing nation and user,” she said. “But the nation is different, because it, if it wants to, does not have to rely on fossil fuels. We have to recognise that there are certain nations that rely on fossil fuels in their economies and lack easy alternatives, and others where oil and gas are the foundation of their economic structure.

“To be just is to be just to all, but the fundamental, basic justice is to avoid being unfair to the Earth, because it is our home.”

Should the proposal receives enough support, COP30 could establish a forum in which the work of drawing up a roadmap to the transition could start.

This process would involve dialogue with every participating countries to the UN framework convention on climate change and guidelines for how the initiative would unfold, Silva said. “After we have criteria, a management framework can be drawn up; once we have a strategy, and establish protections to be able to build trust in the process, I believe that with these elements we can transform positive concepts into steps that are more defined, and more concrete.”

There is no guarantee that a suggestion to start developing a roadmap would be accepted at the conference, although it does not require the formal approval of the conference, which operates by unanimous agreement and can be disrupted by particular groups. COP analysts have suggested they believe there could be support for such a idea from about 60 nations, but there are believed to be at least 40 opposed. There are 195 nations represented at the negotiations.

“In spite of being the root cause of global warming, carbon-based energy are about the most divisive subject there is within the international climate talks, so to see a sizable group of countries openly supporting a route to achieving worldwide phaseout is in itself highly significant.”

“In simple terms, there’s no path to a world where temperature rise remains below 1.5 degrees in which nations cannot to discuss ending fossil fuel use.”

“We need this wording for actual in this discussion. It’s quite stupid that we discuss all topics but that when the main issue are the real challenge.”

Discussions carried on on the weekend on several unresolved issues that have not yet been incorporated into the official agenda: commerce, transparency, finance and how to address the shortfall between the carbon reduction countries have planned and those required to keep to the 1.5C warming limit.

The summit president pledged a “document” that would address these matters, after consultations – which have been underway since Monday – were inconclusive. He urged countries to adopt the “mutirão” attitude, meaning one of cooperation and constructive discussion.

Progress on other substantive topics – including adaptation to the effects of the climate emergency, the fair shift for those impacted by the transition to a low-carbon economy and how to build institutional capacity in less developed nations – carried on productively, the host said.

The host nation's chief negotiator stated the detailed part of the summit process was approaching the end, and the political phase – when ministers who have the power to change their countries’ stances join – was beginning.