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Brazil’s climate chief, the minister, has urged all nations to show the bravery needed to address the necessity of a global fossil fuel phaseout, labeling the creation of a roadmap as an “ethical” answer to the global warming emergency.

She stressed, however, that involvement in this endeavor would be voluntary and “self-determined” for willing nations.

This issue stands as one of the most contentious matters at the COP30 in the host country, with countries split over if and in what way such a roadmap can be addressed. Hosting the event, Brazil has maintained a carefully neutral position on what can be placed on the official schedule.

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

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

Dozens of countries meeting in the host city for the UN climate summit, which is entering its second week, are seeking to determine how a global phaseout of oil, gas, and coal could be implemented. These nations aim to advance a landmark agreement made two years ago at a previous UN summit to “move away from fossil fuels.”

The pledge lacked a schedule or details on the way it could be achieved, and even though it was passed unanimously, several countries have since attempted to back away from the promise. Attempts last year to expand on its practical implications were blocked by resistance from oil-dependent nations at COP29.

Consequently, there was no mention of the transition away from fossil fuels in the outcome of COP29.

For these reasons, Brazil has been cautious of demands by some nations to include 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 conference apart from the formal program.

She convinced Brazil’s leader, and he made mention repeatedly to the need to “shift from dependence on traditional energy” at the summit of world leaders that came before the conference, and at the opening of the summit.

“This is a matter that we understand at some point had to be put forward, because it is the sole way to address the problem from the source,” Marina Silva explained. “We acknowledge that it is not easy, and we cannot sell unrealistic expectations. Raising the topic is courageous, and I wish [to see] this courage from everyone, from producers and using countries.”

The nation had not started the call for a transition, the minister clarified, because that had been done at COP28. Instead, it was allowing the discussions to occur in accordance with what certain countries desired. “We know these subjects are delicate. We will give the chance to talk about it,” the minister said.

Time is insufficient at COP30 to create a roadmap, a process the minister called could take a number of years because many countries confronted complicated challenges around reliance on fossil fuels, or wanted to use the revenue from exporting fossil fuels to fund their economic growth.

“Brazil raises the topic, because it is both a producer and user,” the minister said. “But Brazil is unique, because it, if it chooses to, does not have to rely on fossil fuels. We have to understand that there are some that rely on carbon energy in their economies and lack simple alternatives, and others where oil and gas are the foundation of their economy.

“To be just is to be just to all, but the essential, primordial fairness is to avoid being unfair to the Earth, because it is our home.”

Should the proposal gains sufficient backing, the summit could set up a forum in which the work of creating a strategy to the phaseout could start.

This endeavor would require dialogue with all signatory countries to the UN climate treaty and guidelines for how the initiative would unfold, the minister said. “Once we have criteria, a governance structure can be developed; after we have a plan, and establish safeguards to be able to build 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.”

There is no guarantee that a suggestion to start developing a plan would be accepted at COP30, even if it does not require the official consent of the summit, which proceeds by unanimous agreement and can be disrupted by particular groups. COP analysts have indicated they think there could be backing for such a idea from about sixty nations, but there are thought to be at least forty against. A total of 195 countries participating at the negotiations.

“Despite being the primary source of climate change, carbon-based energy are about the most divisive topic there is within the UN negotiations, so to see a chunky coalition of countries publicly backing a path to achieving 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 countries cannot to discuss fossil fuel phaseout.”

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

Negotiations continued on the weekend on four unresolved issues that have not yet been incorporated into the official agenda: trade, transparency, funding and how to tackle the gap between the emissions cuts nations have planned and those required to hold to the 1.5C warming limit.

The COP30 chair pledged a “note” that would address these issues, after consultations – which have been underway since the start of the week – were inconclusive. The official urged nations to adopt the “mutirão” spirit, referring to one of cooperation and constructive discussion.

Progress on other key issues – including adjustment to the effects of the climate crisis, the fair shift for those impacted by the move to a low-carbon economy and how to strengthen governance capabilities in developing countries – carried on constructively, the host said.

Brazil’s chief negotiator stated the technical part of the summit proceedings was nearing the end, and the high-level phase – when ministers who have the power to alter their countries’ positions arrive – was starting.