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The climate chief, the minister, has called on all nations to demonstrate the courage needed to address the imperative of a worldwide fossil fuel phaseout, labeling the creation of a roadmap as an “ethical” response to the climate crisis.

The minister stressed, however, that involvement in this process would be voluntary and “independently decided” for interested governments.

This issue remains one of the most debated matters at the COP30 in Brazil, with countries divided over if and in what way such a roadmap can be discussed. Hosting the event, the nation has adopted a balanced position on what can be included on the official agenda.

The official expressed approval for the potential of a plan, without directly committing Brazil to it. She stated: “In times we have a terrain that is very challenging, it is helpful that we have a map. But the map does not force us to travel, or to advance.”

In an interview, she noted: “The map is an answer to our scientific understanding [of the climate crisis]. 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 aiming to determine how a global phaseout of oil, gas, and coal could be implemented. These nations hope to build on a landmark resolution made two years ago at COP28 to “move away from non-renewable energy sources.”

The commitment lacked a timetable or specifics on the way it could be realized, and even though it was adopted by all, several countries have since attempted to back away from the promise. Attempts last year to elaborate on its real-world implications were stymied by opposition from petrostates at COP29.

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

For these reasons, Brazil has been cautious of calls by certain nations to place the transition on the schedule for COP30. But Silva has worked hard in private to ensure the pledge could be talked about at the conference outside the official program.

She convinced the nation's president, and he made public reference repeatedly to the need to “shift from reliance on fossil fuels” at the summit of world leaders that came before COP30, and at the start of the summit.

“This is a matter that we understand at a certain time had to be put forward, because it is the only way to face the issue from the source,” Marina Silva explained. “We recognise that it is challenging, and we cannot sell false hopes. Raising the subject is courageous, and I hope [to see] this bravery from all, from producers and using countries.”

The nation had not started the call for a transition, she clarified, because that had been done at COP28. Instead, it was enabling the discussions to take place in line with what some countries desired. “We know these subjects are delicate. We will give the chance to talk about it,” the minister added.

There is not enough time at the summit to create a roadmap, a task the minister called could take a number of years because numerous nations faced complex issues around reliance on fossil fuels, or wanted to use the revenue from selling fossil fuels to finance their economic growth.

“Brazil raises the topic, because it is both a producing nation and user,” the minister said. “But Brazil is different, because Brazil, if it chooses to, does not have to rely on non-renewables. We have to recognise that there are some that rely on fossil fuels in their economic systems and don’t have easy solutions, and some where oil and gas are the foundation of their economic structure.

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

Should the proposal gains enough backing, COP30 could establish a forum in which the process of drawing up a roadmap to the phaseout could start.

The process would require discussions with every participating nations to the UN framework convention on climate change and criteria for how the initiative would unfold, Silva said. “After we have standards, a governance structure can be developed; once we have a strategy, and create safeguards to be able to establish trust in the process, I believe that with these components we can turn positive concepts into actions that are more defined, and more concrete.”

It is uncertain that a proposal to begin developing a roadmap would win approval at the conference, although it may not need the official approval of the summit, which operates by consensus and can be disrupted by particular groups. COP experts have indicated they believe there could be backing for such a proposal from about sixty nations, but there are thought to be at least 40 against. There are one hundred ninety-five countries represented at the negotiations.

“In spite of being the primary source of global warming, carbon-based energy are about the most divisive topic there is within the international climate talks, so to see a chunky coalition of nations openly backing a route to achieving global transition is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

“In simple terms, there’s no route to a planet where temperature rise remains below 1.5C in which countries cannot to talk about fossil fuel phaseout.”

“We require this wording for actual in this discussion. It’s highly illogical that we talk about all topics but that when fossil fuels are the real challenge.”

Negotiations carried on on Saturday on several unresolved issues that have not yet been included into the formal schedule: commerce, transparency, funding and how to tackle the shortfall between the emissions cuts nations have planned and those required to hold to the 1.5-degree warming target.

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

Progress on additional key topics – such as adaptation to the effects of the climate emergency, the just transition for those impacted by the transition to a green economy and how to build governance capabilities in less developed nations – carried on productively, the presidency reported.

The host nation's lead representative stated the detailed phase of the summit proceedings was nearing the end, and the high-level phase – when government leaders who have the power to alter their countries’ positions join – was beginning.