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The environment minister, the minister, has urged all nations to demonstrate the bravery needed to confront the imperative of a worldwide fossil fuel phaseout, labeling the creation of a roadmap as an “ethical” answer to the climate crisis.

The minister emphasized, however, that involvement in this endeavor would be voluntary and “independently decided” for interested nations.

This issue remains one of the most contentious matters at the UN climate summit in the host country, with countries split 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 formal agenda.

The official expressed approval for the possibility of a plan, without explicitly pledging the country to it. The minister stated: “In times we have a terrain that is quite grim, it is helpful that we have a guide. But the guide does not compel us to proceed, or to advance.”

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

Scores of nations gathered in the host city for the UN climate summit, which is entering its second week, are seeking to establish how a global transition of oil, gas, and coal could be implemented. These nations hope to build on a landmark agreement made two years ago at COP28 to “transition away from fossil fuels.”

The commitment had no a timetable or details on the way it could be realized, and although it was adopted by all, several countries have later attempted to back away from the promise. Efforts last year to expand on its practical meaning were stymied by resistance from oil-dependent nations at COP29.

Consequently, there was no mention of the shift away from fossil fuels in the final agreement of that conference.

For these reasons, the host has been wary of calls by certain nations to include the transition on the schedule for COP30. But the minister has strived in private to make sure the pledge could be talked about at the conference apart from the formal program.

She convinced the nation's leader, who made public reference 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 summit.

“The issue is a matter that we understand at some point had to be raised, because it is the only way to address the problem from the root,” the minister explained. “We acknowledge that it is not easy, and we cannot offer unrealistic expectations. Raising the subject is courageous, and I wish [to see] this bravery from everyone, from producing nations and using countries.”

The nation had not initiated the push for a transition, she said, because that had been initiated at COP28. Instead, it was enabling the talks to occur in line with what some nations desired. “We understand these subjects are delicate. We will give the opportunity to discuss it,” she added.

Time is insufficient 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 fossil fuels, or wanted to use the revenue from selling oil and gas to fund their economic growth.

“Brazil brings up the topic, because Brazil is simultaneously a producing nation and user,” she said. “But Brazil is unique, because it, 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 lack easy solutions, and some where fossil fuels are the foundation of their economy.

“To be just is to be just to all, but the essential, primordial justice is not being unjust to the planet, because it is our home.”

If the pledge gains sufficient backing, COP30 could establish a platform in which the process of creating a strategy to the phaseout could start.

The process would involve discussions with every participating nations to the UN framework convention on climate change and criteria for how the process would unfold, Silva explained. “After we have criteria, a management framework can be drawn up; after we have a strategy, and create protections to be able to establish trust in the process, I am confident that with these elements we can turn good ideas into steps that are more defined, and more tangible.”

There is no guarantee that a suggestion to begin developing a roadmap would be accepted at the conference, although it does not require the official consent of the summit, which proceeds by unanimous agreement and can be hijacked by special interests. COP experts have indicated they think there could be backing for such a idea from about sixty nations, but there are believed to be at least forty opposed. There are one hundred ninety-five countries participating at the negotiations.

“In spite of being the root cause of global warming, fossil fuels are about the most contentious subject there is within the UN negotiations, so to see a chunky group of nations publicly backing a route to achieving global phaseout is in itself highly significant.”

“In simple terms, there’s no path to a world where warming stays below 1.5C in which countries aren’t able to talk about fossil fuel phaseout.”

“We need this wording for real in this discussion. It’s highly illogical that we talk about everything but that when fossil fuels are the real problem.”

Negotiations continued on Saturday on several unresolved topics that have still not been included into the formal agenda: trade, openness, funding and how to address the shortfall between the emissions cuts countries have planned and those required to keep to the 1.5-degree warming limit.

A summit chair promised a “document” that would address these matters, after discussions – which have been going on since the start of the week – were inconclusive. He urged countries to adopt the “mutirão” attitude, referring to one of cooperation and constructive 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 build institutional capacity in developing countries – carried on constructively, the presidency said.

Brazil’s lead representative stated the detailed part of the COP proceedings was nearing the end, and the political stage – when government leaders who have the power to change their nations' positions join – was beginning.