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The climate chief, the minister, has urged every country to show the bravery needed to confront the necessity of a global fossil fuel phaseout, labeling the development of a detailed plan as an “ethical” answer to the climate crisis.

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

The topic 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 discussed. As the host, the nation has adopted a carefully neutral stance on which items can be included on the official agenda.

Silva expressed support for the possibility of a roadmap, though not directly committing the country to it. She stated: “In times we have a situation 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 noted: “The map is an response to our scientific knowledge [of the climate emergency]. It is an ethical answer.”

Dozens of countries gathered in Belém for the UN climate summit, which is starting its second week, are seeking to determine how a global phaseout of fossil fuels could be implemented. These nations aim to build on a historic agreement reached two years ago at a previous UN summit to “move away from fossil fuels.”

That commitment had no a schedule or specifics on how it could be realized, and even though it was passed by all, several countries have since tried to disavow the pledge. Attempts last year to elaborate on its real-world meaning were stymied by opposition from oil-dependent nations at COP29.

As a result, there was no mention of the shift away from carbon fuels in the outcome of COP29.

Because of this, the host has been cautious of demands by some countries to include the phaseout on the agenda for the current summit. But Silva has worked hard behind the scenes to ensure the topic could be talked about at the summit outside the official agenda.

The minister won over the nation's leader, who gave public reference three times to the need to “shift from dependence on fossil fuels” at the summit of world leaders that preceded the conference, and at the start of the event.

“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 root,” the minister said. “We acknowledge that it is challenging, and we cannot offer unrealistic expectations. Bringing up the subject is brave, and I hope [to see] this courage from everyone, from producers and consumers.”

Brazil had not started the call for a transition, she said, because that had been initiated at the earlier summit. Instead, it was allowing the discussions to take place in accordance with what certain nations desired. “We know these subjects are delicate. We will give the chance to talk about it,” the minister added.

Time is insufficient at the summit to draw up a roadmap, a task Silva said could take a number of years because numerous nations faced complex issues around reliance on fossil fuels, or wanted to use the proceeds from selling oil and gas to fund their economic growth.

“Brazil raises the topic, because it is simultaneously a producing nation and user,” she noted. “But Brazil is different, because Brazil, if it chooses to, need not rely on non-renewables. We have to recognise that there are certain nations that depend on fossil fuels in their economic systems and lack simple alternatives, and others where fossil fuels are the foundation of their economic structure.

“To be fair is to be fair to all, but the fundamental, basic justice is to avoid being unfair to the Earth, because it is our home.”

If the pledge receives enough support, the summit could establish a forum in which the work of drawing up a strategy to the phaseout could begin.

The endeavor would involve dialogue with every participating nations to the UN framework convention on climate change and criteria for how the process would unfold, Silva said. “After we have criteria, a governance structure can be drawn up; once we have a plan, and create safeguards to be able to establish trust in the system, I believe that with these elements we can turn good ideas into actions that are clearer, and more concrete.”

There is no guarantee that a suggestion to start drawing up a plan would be accepted at COP30, even if it does not require the official approval of the summit, which proceeds by unanimous agreement and can be disrupted by special interests. COP analysts have suggested they believe there could be backing for such a idea from about 60 countries, but there are thought to be at least 40 opposed. A total of one hundred ninety-five nations participating at the talks.

“Despite being the primary source of climate change, fossil fuels are about the most contentious topic there is within the international climate talks, so to see a sizable coalition of countries openly supporting a path to realizing global transition is in itself highly significant.”

“In simple terms, there’s no route to a planet where temperature rise remains below 1.5 degrees in which nations aren’t able to discuss ending fossil fuel use.”

“We require this language for real in this discussion. It’s highly illogical that we talk about everything but then when the main issue are the real challenge.”

Negotiations continued on the weekend on several unresolved issues that have still not been included into the official agenda: commerce, openness, funding and how to tackle the gap between the carbon reduction countries have planned and those needed to hold to the 1.5C warming limit.

The COP30 president pledged a “note” that would address these matters, after discussions – which have been going on since Monday – were unresolved. He urged countries to adopt the “mutirão” attitude, referring to one of collaboration and constructive dialogue.

Progress on additional substantive issues – such as adaptation to the effects of the climate emergency, the just transition for those impacted by the move to a low-carbon economy and how to build institutional capacity in less developed nations – carried on productively, the host said.

Brazil’s chief negotiator stated the detailed phase of the COP process was nearing the end, and the high-level stage – when government leaders who have the authority to alter their countries’ stances join – was starting.