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Brazil’s climate chief, Marina Silva, has called on all nations to show the courage needed to address the necessity of a global transition away from fossil fuels, labeling the development of a roadmap as an “ethical” response to the climate crisis.

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

This issue remains one of the most contentious subjects at the UN climate summit in the host country, with countries divided over whether and how such a roadmap can be addressed. As the host, Brazil has maintained a carefully neutral stance on what can be included on the formal schedule.

Silva voiced support for the potential of a roadmap, without explicitly pledging Brazil to it. She remarked: “When we have a situation that is quite grim, it is helpful that we have a guide. But the guide does not force us to proceed, or to advance.”

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

Scores of countries meeting in Belém for the global climate conference, which is entering its next phase, are aiming to determine how a global phaseout of fossil fuels could be implemented. They aim to advance a historic agreement reached two years ago at a previous UN summit to “transition away from non-renewable energy sources.”

That commitment had no a schedule or details on how it could be realized, and even though it was passed by all, several nations have since tried to back away from the pledge. Efforts last year to expand on its practical implications were stymied by opposition from petrostates at another UN summit.

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

Because of this, Brazil has been cautious of demands by some nations to include the transition on the agenda for the current summit. But Silva has strived behind the scenes to make sure the topic could be talked about at the summit outside the formal agenda.

The minister won over the nation's president, who made mention three times to the need to “shift from dependence on traditional energy” at the summit of world leaders that preceded the conference, and at the opening of the event.

“The issue is a matter that we know at some point had to be raised, because it is the sole way to address the problem from the root,” Marina Silva said. “We acknowledge that it is challenging, and we must not offer unrealistic expectations. Bringing up the subject is courageous, and I hope [to see] this courage from everyone, from producers and using countries.”

Brazil had not initiated the push for a phaseout, she clarified, because that had been done at the earlier summit. Instead, it was enabling the discussions to take place in accordance with what certain nations wished. “We understand these subjects are sensitive. We will give the opportunity to discuss it,” she added.

Time is insufficient at COP30 to draw up a roadmap, a task Silva said could take a number of years because many nations faced complicated issues around reliance on carbon-based energy, or wanted to use the proceeds from selling fossil fuels to finance their economic growth.

“Brazil brings up the subject, because Brazil is simultaneously a producing nation and user,” she noted. “But the nation is unique, because it, if it chooses to, need not rely on non-renewables. We have to understand that there are some that rely on fossil fuels in their economies and don’t have easy alternatives, and some where fossil fuels are the foundation of their economic structure.

“To be just is to be fair to everyone, but the fundamental, basic justice is not being unjust to the planet, because it is our home.”

If the pledge gains enough backing, the summit could set up a platform in which the process of drawing up a strategy to the transition could begin.

The endeavor would require dialogue with every participating nations to the UN climate treaty and criteria for how the process would proceed, the minister explained. “After we have standards, a management framework can be developed; after we have a strategy, and establish safeguards to be able to establish trust in the process, I believe that with these components we can transform good ideas into actions that are clearer, and more tangible.”

There is no guarantee that a proposal to start developing a roadmap would be accepted at the conference, although it does not require the formal approval of the summit, which operates by unanimous agreement and can be disrupted by particular groups. Climate analysts have indicated they believe there could be backing for such a idea from about sixty countries, but there are thought to be at least 40 opposed. There are 195 countries represented at the talks.

“Despite being the primary source of climate change, fossil fuels are about the most contentious topic there is within the UN negotiations, so to see a chunky group of countries openly backing a path to achieving worldwide phaseout is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

“Put simply, there’s no path to a world where temperature rise remains below 1.5C in which nations cannot to talk about ending fossil fuel use.”

“We require this wording for real in this conversation. It’s quite stupid that we discuss all topics but then when fossil fuels are the real problem.”

Discussions continued on the weekend on four outstanding issues that have not yet been incorporated into the official agenda: commerce, openness, finance and how to tackle the shortfall between the carbon reduction countries have planned and those needed to hold to the 1.5-degree temperature target.

The summit president promised a “note” that would cover these matters, after consultations – which have been underway since Monday – were unresolved. The official called on nations to embrace the “mutirão” attitude, referring to one of cooperation and positive dialogue.

Progress on other key issues – such as adjustment to the effects of the climate emergency, the fair shift for those affected by the move to a low-carbon economic system and how to strengthen institutional capacity in developing countries – carried on constructively, the presidency reported.

The host nation's chief negotiator stated the technical phase of the summit proceedings was nearing completion, and the political stage – when government leaders who have the authority to change their countries’ stances arrive – was beginning.