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Brazil’s environment minister, the minister, has urged every country to show the courage needed to address the imperative of a worldwide transition away from fossil fuels, labeling the creation of a roadmap as an “ethical” answer to the global warming emergency.

She stressed, though, that participation in this endeavor would be voluntary and “independently decided” for interested nations.

This issue stands as one of the most contentious matters at the UN climate summit in Brazil, with countries divided over whether and how such a strategy can be discussed. As the host, the nation has maintained a balanced position on which items can be included on the official schedule.

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

Speaking further, she noted: “The roadmap is an response to our scientific understanding [of the climate emergency]. It is an ethical response.”

Scores of countries meeting in Belém for the global climate conference, which is starting its second week, are seeking to determine how a worldwide transition of oil, gas, and coal could work. These nations aim to build on a landmark agreement made two years ago at a previous UN summit to “move away from fossil fuels.”

That commitment had no a timetable or details on how it could be realized, and even though it was adopted unanimously, several nations have later tried to back away from the promise. Attempts last year to expand on its practical meaning were stymied by opposition from petrostates at another UN summit.

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

Because of this, Brazil has been cautious of demands by some nations to place the phaseout on the schedule for the current summit. But the minister has strived in private to ensure the pledge could be talked about at the summit outside the official agenda.

She won over the nation's president, who made mention repeatedly to the need to “move away from dependence on traditional energy” at the summit of world leaders that came before COP30, and at the opening of the event.

“This is a matter that we understand at a certain time had to be raised, because it is the sole way to address the issue from the root,” the minister said. “We acknowledge that it is not easy, and we cannot offer unrealistic expectations. Raising the subject is brave, and I hope [to see] this courage from all, from producers and using countries.”

Brazil had not started the push for a transition, the minister clarified, because that had been done at the earlier summit. Rather, it was allowing the discussions to occur in accordance with what some nations desired. “We know these topics are sensitive. We will provide the chance to discuss it,” the minister said.

There is not enough time at COP30 to draw up a detailed plan, a task the minister called could take several years because many nations faced complex issues around dependence on fossil fuels, or aimed to use the proceeds from exporting oil and gas to finance their economic growth.

“The country brings up the subject, because it is simultaneously a producing nation and user,” she noted. “But Brazil is unique, because Brazil, if it chooses to, need not rely on fossil fuels. We have to recognise that there are some that rely on carbon energy in their economic systems and lack easy alternatives, and some where oil and gas are the basis of their economy.

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

If the pledge receives sufficient backing, the summit could set up a platform in which the process of creating a strategy to the phaseout could start.

The process would require discussions with every signatory countries to the UN climate treaty and guidelines for how the process would proceed, Silva said. “Once we have criteria, a management framework can be drawn up; once we have a strategy, and create protections to be able to establish trust in the system, I believe that with these elements we can transform good ideas into steps that are more defined, and more tangible.”

It is uncertain that a proposal to start drawing up a plan would win approval at the conference, even if it does not require the official consent of the conference, which operates by unanimous agreement and can be disrupted by special interests. COP analysts have suggested they think there could be support for such a idea from about 60 nations, but there are believed to be at least 40 against. A total of 195 nations participating at the talks.

“Despite being the root cause of global warming, fossil fuels are about the most divisive subject there is within the international climate talks, so to see a sizable group of countries openly backing a path to achieving global transition is in itself highly significant.”

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

“We need this language for actual in this conversation. It’s highly illogical that we discuss all topics but then when fossil fuels are the actual challenge.”

Negotiations continued on Saturday on several outstanding topics that have still not been included into the official agenda: commerce, openness, finance and how to address the gap between the emissions cuts countries have proposed and those needed to hold to the 1.5-degree temperature limit.

A summit chair pledged a “document” that would cover these issues, after discussions – which have been underway since the start of the week – were unresolved. The official urged countries to adopt the “mutirão” attitude, referring to one of cooperation and constructive dialogue.

Progress on other substantive topics – such as adjustment to the effects of the climate crisis, the just transition for those impacted by the move to a green economic system and how to build institutional capacity in developing countries – carried on constructively, the host reported.

Brazil’s lead representative stated the technical phase of the summit process was approaching completion, and the high-level phase – when government leaders who have the authority to change their nations' stances arrive – was starting.