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The climate chief, Marina Silva, has called on all nations to demonstrate the courage needed to confront the imperative of a global fossil fuel phaseout, describing the development of a roadmap as an “moral” answer to the climate crisis.

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

The topic remains one of the most debated matters at the COP30 in the host country, with nations divided over if and in what way such a roadmap can be addressed. As the host, Brazil has adopted a balanced position on which items can be included on the formal schedule.

Silva expressed approval for the possibility of a plan, without directly pledging Brazil to it. The minister stated: “In times we have a terrain that is quite grim, it is helpful that we have a map. But the guide does not force us to travel, or to advance.”

Speaking further, the minister noted: “The roadmap is an answer to our scientific knowledge [of the climate crisis]. It is an moral answer.”

Scores of nations meeting in Belém for the UN climate summit, which is entering its next phase, are seeking to determine how a worldwide transition of fossil fuels could be implemented. They aim to build on a landmark agreement reached two years ago at a previous UN summit to “transition away from fossil fuels.”

That commitment had no a schedule or details on the way it could be realized, and even though it was passed by all, several countries have since tried to back away from the promise. Efforts last year to expand on its practical implications were blocked by resistance from oil-dependent nations at another UN summit.

As a result, there was no mention of the shift away from fossil fuels in the final agreement of COP29.

Because of this, the host has been wary of calls by some countries to place the transition on the agenda for COP30. But Silva has strived in private to ensure the pledge could be discussed at the summit outside the official agenda.

She won over the nation's president, who made public reference repeatedly to the need to “shift from reliance on fossil fuels” at the global leaders' meeting that preceded the conference, and at the start of the summit.

“The issue is something that we know at a certain time had to be put forward, because it is the only way to address the issue from the root,” the minister explained. “We recognise that it is not easy, and we must not sell unrealistic expectations. Bringing up the subject is courageous, and I wish [to see] this bravery from all, from producers and using countries.”

The nation had not initiated the push for a transition, the minister said, because that had been initiated at COP28. Instead, it was allowing the discussions to take place in line with what some countries desired. “We know these topics are sensitive. We will give the opportunity to talk about it,” she added.

Time is insufficient at COP30 to create a roadmap, a task the minister called could take several years because many countries faced complicated challenges around reliance on carbon-based energy, or aimed to use the proceeds from exporting fossil fuels to fund their economic growth.

“The country brings up the subject, because it is both a producing nation and consumer,” she noted. “But the nation is unique, because Brazil, if it wants to, does not have to rely on fossil fuels. We have to understand that there are some that depend on fossil fuels in their economies and don’t have simple alternatives, and others where fossil fuels are the basis of their economy.

“To be just is to be fair to all, but the fundamental, primordial fairness is not being unfair to the Earth, because it is our shared home.”

If the pledge gains enough support, the summit could set up a forum in which the process of creating a strategy to the transition could begin.

The process would involve discussions with every signatory nations to the UN climate treaty and criteria for how the initiative would proceed, Silva explained. “Once we have standards, a management framework can be drawn up; once we have a strategy, and establish protections to be able to establish confidence in the system, I am confident that with these elements we can turn positive concepts into steps that are more defined, and more concrete.”

There is no guarantee that a proposal to begin drawing up a roadmap would win approval at COP30, although it does not require the official consent of the conference, which operates by unanimous agreement and can be disrupted by particular groups. Climate experts have suggested they believe there could be backing for such a proposal from about sixty countries, but there are believed to be at least 40 opposed. A total of one hundred ninety-five nations participating at the negotiations.

“Despite being the root cause of global warming, fossil fuels are about the most divisive topic there is within the international climate talks, so to see a sizable group of nations openly supporting a path to realizing worldwide phaseout is in itself highly significant.”

“Put simply, there’s no route to a planet where warming remains below 1.5 degrees in which countries cannot to talk about ending fossil fuel use.”

“We require this language for actual in this discussion. It’s quite stupid that we talk about everything but then when fossil fuels are the actual problem.”

Negotiations continued on Saturday on several unresolved issues that have not yet been incorporated into the formal schedule: trade, transparency, finance and how to tackle the gap between the carbon reduction countries have proposed and those needed to keep to the 1.5C temperature target.

The summit president pledged a “document” that would address these matters, after consultations – 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 collaboration and positive dialogue.

Progress on additional key issues – including adjustment to the effects of the climate emergency, the fair shift for those impacted by the move to a green economic system and how to strengthen governance capabilities in less developed nations – proceeded constructively, the presidency said.

Brazil’s chief negotiator said the technical part of the summit proceedings was nearing the end, and the political phase – when government leaders who have the authority to alter their countries’ stances join – was beginning.