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The environment minister, the minister, has called on every country to demonstrate the courage needed to confront the necessity of a global fossil fuel phaseout, describing the creation of a roadmap as an “moral” response to the global warming emergency.

The minister stressed, though, that involvement in this endeavor would be optional and “independently decided” for interested nations.

The topic stands as one of the most debated subjects at the UN climate summit in the host country, with nations split over whether and in what way such a strategy can be addressed. Hosting the event, the nation has maintained a balanced position on which items can be included on the formal schedule.

Silva expressed approval for the possibility of a roadmap, without directly committing 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 map does not force us to proceed, or to climb.”

In an interview, she added: “The roadmap is an answer to our scientific knowledge [of the climate emergency]. It is an ethical answer.”

Dozens of nations meeting in the host city for the global climate conference, which is starting its second week, are seeking to establish how a global transition of fossil fuels could be implemented. They hope to build on a landmark agreement reached two years ago at a previous UN summit to “move away from non-renewable energy sources.”

The pledge lacked a schedule or details on how it could be achieved, and even though it was passed by all, several countries have since attempted to back away from the pledge. Efforts last year to elaborate on its practical meaning were blocked by resistance from petrostates at another UN summit.

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

For these reasons, the host has been cautious of calls by some countries to place the phaseout on the schedule for COP30. But Silva has strived in private to ensure the pledge could be talked about at the conference outside the official agenda.

She won over Brazil’s leader, and he gave public reference repeatedly to the need to “move away from reliance on traditional energy” at the summit of world leaders that preceded COP30, and at the start of the summit.

“The issue is a matter that we understand at a certain time had to be put forward, because it is the sole way to face the problem from the root,” the minister explained. “We recognise that it is not easy, and we must not sell unrealistic expectations. Raising the topic is courageous, and I hope [to see] this courage from all, from producing nations and consumers.”

The nation had not initiated the push for a phaseout, she said, because that had been done at the earlier summit. Rather, it was enabling the discussions to take place in accordance with what some nations desired. “We understand these topics are delicate. We will provide the opportunity to discuss it,” the minister said.

There is not enough time at the summit to create a roadmap, a process the minister said could take a number of years because many nations faced complicated issues around reliance on fossil fuels, or aimed to use the revenue from selling oil and gas to fund their development.

“The country raises the subject, because Brazil is simultaneously a producer and consumer,” she noted. “But Brazil is different, because Brazil, if it wants to, need not depend on fossil fuels. We have to recognise that there are some that rely on carbon energy in their economies and don’t have easy alternatives, and others where oil and gas are the foundation of their economy.

“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 pledge receives enough support, COP30 could establish a platform in which the work of creating a strategy to the transition could begin.

The process would involve dialogue with all signatory nations to the UN climate treaty and criteria for how the process would unfold, the minister said. “After we have standards, a governance structure can be drawn up; once we have a plan, and create protections to be able to build trust in the process, I believe that with these components we can transform good ideas into steps that are clearer, and more tangible.”

There is no guarantee that a suggestion to begin drawing up a plan would win approval at COP30, even if it may not need the formal consent of the summit, which operates by consensus and can be disrupted by particular groups. Climate experts have suggested they believe there could be support for such a idea from about 60 nations, but there are thought to be at least 40 opposed. There are 195 nations represented at the negotiations.

“Despite being the root cause of global warming, carbon-based energy are about the most contentious topic there is within the international climate talks, so to see a chunky group of countries publicly backing a path to realizing global phaseout 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 require this language for real in this discussion. It’s quite stupid that we discuss all topics but that when the main issue are the actual problem.”

Discussions carried on on Saturday on several unresolved topics that have still not been incorporated into the official schedule: trade, transparency, funding and how to address the shortfall between the carbon reduction countries have planned and those required to keep to the 1.5-degree temperature limit.

The COP30 president pledged a “note” that would address these issues, after discussions – which have been going on since Monday – were unresolved. The official called on nations to embrace the “mutirão” attitude, referring to one of collaboration and constructive dialogue.

Work on additional key topics – including adjustment to the impacts of the climate crisis, the fair shift for those impacted by the move to a green economic system and how to strengthen institutional capacity in less developed nations – proceeded productively, the host reported.

The host nation's lead representative said the technical phase of the COP proceedings was approaching completion, and the high-level stage – when government leaders who have the power to alter their nations' positions join – was starting.