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Brazil’s climate chief, the minister, has called on every country to show the bravery needed to confront the imperative of a worldwide fossil fuel phaseout, labeling the development of a detailed plan as an “ethical” answer to the global warming emergency.

She emphasized, though, that involvement in this process would be voluntary and “independently decided” for willing governments.

This issue remains one of the most debated subjects at the UN climate summit in Brazil, with nations split over whether and in what way such a roadmap can be addressed. Hosting the event, Brazil has maintained a balanced position on what can be included on the official agenda.

Silva expressed support for the potential of a roadmap, without directly pledging the country to it. She stated: “In times we have a terrain that is very challenging, it is good that we have a guide. But the map does not force us to travel, or to advance.”

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

Scores of countries gathered in Belém for the UN climate summit, which is entering its next phase, are seeking to establish how a global phaseout of oil, gas, and coal could work. These nations hope to build on a landmark agreement made two years ago at COP28 to “transition away from non-renewable energy sources.”

The pledge had no a timetable or specifics on how it could be achieved, and although it was passed unanimously, several countries have later attempted to back away from the promise. Efforts last year to elaborate on its practical implications were blocked by resistance from oil-dependent nations at COP29.

As a result, there was no mention of the shift away from fossil fuels in the outcome of that conference.

Because of this, Brazil has been wary of demands by certain nations to place the phaseout on the schedule for the current summit. But the minister has worked hard in private to ensure the topic could be discussed at the summit apart from the formal program.

She won over Brazil’s leader, who gave public reference three times to the need to “shift from reliance on fossil fuels” at the summit of world leaders that preceded COP30, and at the opening of the summit.

“The issue is something that we know at some point had to be put forward, because it is the only way to face the issue from the source,” the minister explained. “We acknowledge that it is challenging, and we cannot sell unrealistic expectations. Raising the subject is courageous, and I wish [to see] this bravery from all, from producers and consumers.”

Brazil had not initiated the push for a phaseout, the minister said, because that had been initiated at COP28. Rather, it was allowing the discussions to occur in line with what some nations desired. “We understand these topics are delicate. We will provide the opportunity to talk about it,” the minister added.

Time is insufficient at the summit to draw up a detailed plan, a task Silva said could take several years because many nations confronted complicated challenges around reliance on carbon-based energy, or aimed to use the proceeds from exporting fossil fuels to finance their development.

“The country brings up the topic, because it is simultaneously a producing nation and consumer,” the minister noted. “But Brazil is different, because Brazil, if it chooses to, need not depend on non-renewables. We have to recognise that there are some that rely on carbon energy in their economic systems and don’t have simple alternatives, and some where fossil fuels are the basis of their economic structure.

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

If the proposal gains enough backing, the summit could set up a platform in which the process of creating a roadmap to the phaseout could begin.

The endeavor would involve discussions with every signatory countries to the UN framework convention on climate change and criteria for how the process would proceed, the minister explained. “Once we have criteria, a governance structure can be drawn up; after we have a strategy, and create safeguards to be able to establish trust in the system, I am confident that with these components we can transform positive concepts into steps that are clearer, and more concrete.”

There is no guarantee that a proposal to start drawing up a roadmap would win approval at COP30, although it may not need the formal consent of the conference, which proceeds by unanimous agreement and can be hijacked by special interests. Climate analysts have indicated they believe there could be support for such a idea from about 60 nations, but there are thought to be at least 40 opposed. A total of 195 countries represented at the negotiations.

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

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

“We need this language for actual in this discussion. It’s quite stupid that we talk about everything but that when the main issue are the real problem.”

Negotiations continued on the weekend on several outstanding topics that have still not been incorporated into the official agenda: trade, openness, finance and how to tackle the shortfall between the carbon reduction countries have proposed and those required to keep to the 1.5-degree warming limit.

A COP30 chair promised a “document” that would cover these matters, after discussions – which have been going on since Monday – were unresolved. The official called on nations to embrace the “mutirão” spirit, meaning one of collaboration and positive dialogue.

Progress on additional substantive issues – such as adaptation to the effects of the climate crisis, the just transition for those affected by the transition to a green economic system and how to build institutional capacity in less developed nations – carried on constructively, the host reported.

Brazil’s lead representative stated the technical part of the summit proceedings was approaching the end, and the high-level stage – when government leaders who have the power to alter their nations' positions arrive – was starting.