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Brazil’s environment minister, the minister, has called on every country to demonstrate the bravery needed to address the imperative of a global fossil fuel phaseout, labeling the creation of a roadmap as an “moral” answer to the climate crisis.

The minister emphasized, however, that participation in this endeavor would be voluntary and “independently decided” for interested governments.

This issue stands as one of the most contentious matters at the COP30 in Brazil, with countries divided over whether and in what way such a roadmap can be discussed. As the host, the nation has adopted a carefully neutral stance on what can be included on the official agenda.

The official voiced support for the potential of a plan, without directly committing Brazil to it. She remarked: “In times we have a terrain that is very challenging, it is helpful that we have a map. But the guide does not force us to proceed, or to advance.”

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

Scores of countries meeting in Belém for the global climate conference, which is entering its second week, are aiming to determine how a worldwide phaseout of oil, gas, and coal could be implemented. They hope to advance a historic agreement made two years ago at a previous UN summit to “move away from fossil fuels.”

The commitment lacked a timetable or specifics on how it could be realized, and although it was passed unanimously, some nations have later attempted to disavow the promise. Efforts last year to expand on its practical meaning were stymied by resistance from oil-dependent nations at COP29.

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

Because of this, Brazil has been cautious of calls by some nations to include the phaseout on the schedule for the current summit. But the minister has strived behind the scenes to make sure the topic could be talked about at the conference outside the official agenda.

She convinced Brazil’s leader, who gave public reference repeatedly to the need to “move away from reliance on fossil fuels” at the summit of world leaders that came before the conference, and at the start of the event.

“This is something that we understand at a certain time had to be raised, because it is the sole way to face the issue from the root,” Marina Silva said. “We recognise that it is not easy, and we cannot offer unrealistic expectations. Bringing up the topic is brave, and I wish [to see] this courage from everyone, from producing nations and using countries.”

The nation had not started the call for a transition, she said, because that had been initiated at the earlier summit. Rather, it was allowing the talks to occur in line with what certain nations wished. “We understand these subjects are sensitive. We will give the opportunity to talk about it,” the minister said.

Time is insufficient at COP30 to create a detailed plan, a process the minister said could take several years because many countries faced complicated issues around reliance on carbon-based energy, or wanted to use the proceeds from selling fossil fuels to finance their economic growth.

“The country raises the subject, because it is both a producing nation and consumer,” the minister said. “But the nation is different, because it, if it wants to, does not have to rely on fossil fuels. We have to understand that there are some that rely on fossil fuels in their economies and don’t have easy solutions, and others where fossil fuels are the basis of their economic structure.

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

Should the pledge gains sufficient backing, the summit could establish a forum in which the process of creating a roadmap to the phaseout could start.

This endeavor would involve dialogue with all participating nations to the UN framework convention on climate change and guidelines for how the initiative would proceed, the minister explained. “After we have criteria, a governance structure can be drawn up; after we have a plan, and create safeguards to be able to build confidence in the process, I believe that with these components we can transform good ideas into steps that are more defined, and more tangible.”

It is uncertain that a suggestion to start drawing up a plan would be accepted at COP30, although it may not need the official consent of the conference, which proceeds by unanimous agreement and can be disrupted by particular groups. Climate experts have indicated they believe there could be backing for such a proposal from about sixty nations, but there are believed to be at least 40 opposed. There are one hundred ninety-five countries represented at the negotiations.

“In spite of being the root cause of climate change, fossil fuels are about the most contentious subject there is within the UN negotiations, so to see a sizable group of countries openly supporting a path to realizing global transition 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 aren’t able to talk about ending fossil fuel use.”

“We require this wording for actual in this discussion. It’s highly illogical that we talk about all topics but then when fossil fuels are the real challenge.”

Negotiations carried on on the weekend on several unresolved topics that have not yet been included into the formal schedule: trade, transparency, finance and how to address the shortfall between the carbon reduction countries have proposed and those required to keep to the 1.5C temperature target.

A COP30 chair pledged a “document” that would cover these matters, after consultations – which have been going on since the start of the week – were inconclusive. He called on countries to embrace the “mutirão” attitude, referring to one of cooperation and positive dialogue.

Work on other key issues – including adjustment to the effects of the climate emergency, 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 constructively, the host reported.

Brazil’s chief negotiator stated the technical phase of the summit proceedings was approaching completion, and the high-level phase – when government leaders who have the authority to alter their countries’ positions join – was starting.