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The climate chief, the minister, has urged all nations to demonstrate the courage needed to address the necessity of a worldwide fossil fuel phaseout, describing the development of a detailed plan as an “ethical” response to the global warming emergency.

The minister stressed, however, that participation in this process would be optional and “self-determined” for willing governments.

This issue stands as one of the most debated matters at the UN climate summit in Brazil, with countries split over if and in what way such a roadmap can be addressed. As the host, Brazil has adopted a balanced position on what can be included on the formal agenda.

The official voiced support for the potential of a roadmap, without directly pledging the country to it. The minister remarked: “In times we have a terrain that is quite grim, it is helpful that we have a map. But the guide does not compel us to proceed, or to climb.”

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

Scores of countries gathered in the host city for the UN climate summit, which is starting its next phase, are aiming to determine how a worldwide transition of fossil fuels could be implemented. These nations hope to advance a landmark agreement reached two years ago at COP28 to “move away from fossil fuels.”

The commitment had no a schedule or details on the way it could be achieved, and even though it was adopted unanimously, several nations have since tried to back away from the pledge. Attempts last year to expand on its practical implications were blocked by opposition from oil-dependent nations at COP29.

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

Because of this, the host has been wary of calls by some nations to place the phaseout on the agenda for the current summit. But Silva has strived in private to make sure the pledge could be talked about at the summit apart from the formal agenda.

She convinced the nation's leader, who made mention repeatedly to the need to “shift from reliance on fossil fuels” at the global leaders' meeting that came before the conference, and at the start of the summit.

“The issue is something that we know at a certain time had to be raised, because it is the only way to address the issue from the source,” the minister said. “We recognise that it is challenging, and we must not offer unrealistic expectations. Raising the topic is courageous, and I wish [to see] this bravery from all, from producers and consumers.”

The nation had not initiated the call for a phaseout, she clarified, because that had been initiated at COP28. Instead, it was allowing the discussions to occur in accordance with what some nations desired. “We understand these subjects are delicate. We will provide the opportunity to discuss it,” she added.

There is not enough time at COP30 to draw up a detailed plan, a task Silva said could take several years because numerous nations confronted complicated issues around dependence on fossil fuels, or aimed to use the proceeds from exporting fossil fuels to fund their development.

“Brazil brings up the topic, because it is simultaneously a producing nation and user,” the minister noted. “But Brazil is different, because it, if it wants to, does not have to rely on non-renewables. We have to recognise that there are some that depend on carbon energy in their economies and lack simple solutions, and some where fossil fuels are the foundation of their economy.

“To be fair is to be fair to all, but the fundamental, primordial fairness is to avoid being unjust to the planet, because it is our home.”

Should the pledge gains enough backing, the summit could establish a platform in which the process of drawing up a roadmap to the transition could start.

This process would require discussions with every participating countries to the UN framework convention on climate change and guidelines for how the process would unfold, Silva explained. “Once we have standards, a governance structure can be drawn up; once we have a strategy, and create safeguards to be able to establish confidence in the process, I am confident that with these elements we can transform positive concepts into steps that are more defined, and more concrete.”

It is uncertain that a suggestion to start developing a plan would be accepted at the conference, even if it does not require the official approval of the conference, which operates by consensus and can be hijacked by particular groups. Climate experts have suggested they think there could be support for such a proposal from about 60 nations, but there are believed to be at least forty opposed. A total of one hundred ninety-five nations participating at the negotiations.

“Despite being the primary source of global warming, carbon-based energy are about the most contentious topic there is within the UN negotiations, so to see a sizable group of countries openly backing a route to realizing worldwide transition is in itself highly significant.”

“In simple terms, there’s no path to a planet where warming remains below 1.5C in which nations cannot to talk about fossil fuel phaseout.”

“We require this wording for real in this conversation. It’s highly illogical that we discuss all topics but then when the main issue are the real challenge.”

Negotiations continued on Saturday on four unresolved topics that have still not been incorporated into the official schedule: commerce, transparency, funding and how to tackle the gap between the emissions cuts countries have planned and those needed to keep to the 1.5C temperature target.

The COP30 president pledged a “document” that would address these issues, after discussions – which have been going on since the start of the week – were inconclusive. He called on countries to embrace the “mutirão” attitude, meaning one of cooperation and constructive discussion.

Progress on other key topics – including adaptation to the impacts of the climate emergency, the just transition for those impacted by the transition to a green economy and how to strengthen governance capabilities in less developed nations – carried on constructively, the host said.

Brazil’s lead representative stated the technical phase of the summit process was approaching completion, and the political phase – when ministers who have the power to change their nations' stances arrive – was beginning.