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The climate chief, the minister, has urged every country to demonstrate the bravery needed to confront the imperative of a worldwide transition away from fossil fuels, labeling the creation of a roadmap as an “moral” response to the climate crisis.

She emphasized, though, that involvement in this endeavor would be optional and “independently decided” for interested governments.

This issue stands as one of the most contentious matters at the COP30 in Brazil, with nations divided over whether and in what way such a strategy can be addressed. Hosting the event, Brazil has adopted a carefully neutral position on which items can be placed on the official schedule.

Silva expressed approval for the possibility of a roadmap, though not explicitly committing Brazil to it. The minister stated: “When we have a situation that is very challenging, it is helpful that we have a guide. But the map does not compel us to proceed, or to climb.”

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

Scores of nations gathered in Belém for the UN climate summit, which is starting its second week, are aiming to establish how a global phaseout of fossil fuels could work. These nations aim to build on a landmark agreement made two years ago at a previous UN summit to “transition away from non-renewable energy sources.”

That commitment lacked a schedule or specifics on the way it could be realized, and although it was passed by all, some countries have since tried to disavow the promise. Efforts last year to expand on its practical meaning were stymied by opposition from oil-dependent nations at COP29.

As a result, there was no reference of the transition away from carbon fuels in the final agreement of COP29.

Because of this, the host has been wary of demands by certain countries to place the phaseout on the agenda for the current summit. But Silva has strived behind the scenes to ensure the pledge could be talked about at the conference outside the formal program.

She won over the nation's leader, and he made mention three times to the need to “shift from dependence on fossil fuels” at the global leaders' meeting that came before COP30, and at the start 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 face the issue from the root,” the minister said. “We recognise that it is not easy, and we cannot offer false hopes. Raising the subject is brave, and I wish [to see] this courage from all, from producing nations and consumers.”

Brazil had not initiated the call for a transition, she said, because that had been done at the earlier summit. Rather, it was enabling the discussions to occur in accordance with what some nations desired. “We understand these topics are sensitive. We will give the chance to discuss it,” the minister added.

Time is insufficient at COP30 to draw up a detailed plan, a process Silva said could take a number of years because numerous countries faced complicated challenges around dependence on carbon-based energy, or aimed to use the revenue from selling fossil fuels to fund their economic growth.

“Brazil raises the topic, because it is simultaneously a producer and consumer,” the minister said. “But the nation is different, because Brazil, if it wants to, need not depend on fossil fuels. We have to understand that there are certain nations that depend on carbon energy in their economic systems and don’t have easy alternatives, and some where fossil fuels are the basis of their economy.

“To be fair is to be just to all, but the essential, basic justice is not being unjust to the Earth, because it is our shared home.”

Should the pledge receives sufficient backing, the summit could establish a platform in which the process of drawing up a strategy to the phaseout could start.

This process would involve dialogue with all signatory countries to the UN climate treaty and criteria for how the process would unfold, Silva explained. “After we have criteria, a governance structure can be developed; once we have a strategy, and establish safeguards to be able to build confidence in the system, I believe that with these components we can transform positive concepts into actions that are clearer, and more concrete.”

It is uncertain that a proposal to begin drawing up a roadmap would be accepted at COP30, even if it does not require the official consent of the conference, which proceeds by unanimous agreement 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 believed to be at least forty opposed. A total of one hundred ninety-five nations participating at the talks.

“In spite of being the primary source of global warming, carbon-based energy are about the most divisive subject there is within the UN negotiations, so to see a sizable coalition of countries openly supporting a path to realizing worldwide transition is in itself highly significant.”

“In simple terms, there’s no route to a planet where warming stays below 1.5 degrees in which nations aren’t able to talk about fossil fuel phaseout.”

“We require this language for actual in this conversation. It’s quite stupid that we discuss everything but that when the main issue are the actual challenge.”

Discussions carried on on the weekend on several outstanding topics that have still not been incorporated into the official schedule: trade, transparency, finance and how to tackle the gap between the emissions cuts nations have proposed and those needed to hold to the 1.5-degree warming target.

A summit president promised a “note” that would cover these issues, after discussions – which have been underway since Monday – were unresolved. He urged nations to embrace the “mutirão” attitude, meaning one of cooperation and positive dialogue.

Progress on additional key issues – including adjustment to the effects of the climate emergency, the just transition for those impacted by the transition to a low-carbon economy and how to strengthen institutional capacity in less developed nations – carried on constructively, the presidency reported.

The host nation's lead representative stated the technical phase of the summit process was nearing completion, and the high-level stage – when government leaders who have the authority to alter their countries’ stances join – was starting.