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The environment minister, the minister, has urged every country to show the bravery needed to confront the imperative of a global transition away from fossil fuels, labeling the development of a detailed plan as an “moral” response to the climate crisis.

She emphasized, though, that participation in this endeavor would be voluntary and “independently decided” for willing nations.

This issue remains one of the most debated subjects at the COP30 in the host country, with nations divided over if and in what way such a strategy can be discussed. As the host, Brazil has maintained 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 remarked: “In times we have a terrain that is very challenging, it is good that we have a map. But the guide does not force us to proceed, or to climb.”

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

Scores of countries gathered in the host city for the global climate conference, which is starting its second week, are seeking to establish how a global phaseout of fossil fuels could work. They hope to build on a landmark resolution made two years ago at a previous UN summit to “move away from fossil fuels.”

The pledge had no a timetable or specifics on how it could be realized, and even though it was adopted by all, several nations have later attempted to back away from the pledge. Attempts last year to elaborate on its real-world implications were stymied by resistance from oil-dependent nations at another UN summit.

Consequently, there was no mention of the shift away from fossil fuels in the final agreement of COP29.

Because of this, the host has been cautious of calls by certain nations to include the transition on the schedule for the current summit. But the minister has worked hard in private to make sure the topic could be discussed at the conference outside the official program.

The minister convinced Brazil’s president, who gave public reference three times to the need to “shift from dependence on traditional energy” at the global leaders' meeting that came before the conference, and at the start of the summit.

“The issue is something that we understand at some point had to be put forward, because it is the sole way to address the problem from the root,” the minister explained. “We recognise that it is challenging, and we cannot sell unrealistic expectations. Bringing up the topic is brave, and I hope [to see] this courage from all, from producers and consumers.”

The nation had not initiated the push for a transition, she clarified, because that had been done at the earlier summit. Instead, it was allowing the discussions to take place in accordance with what some nations wished. “We know these subjects are delicate. We will give the chance to talk about it,” she said.

Time is insufficient at COP30 to create a detailed plan, a process the minister called could take several years because numerous nations confronted complex challenges around dependence on fossil fuels, or aimed to use the proceeds from exporting fossil fuels to fund their development.

“Brazil raises the subject, because Brazil is both a producer and user,” the minister noted. “But Brazil is different, because Brazil, if it wants to, need not depend on fossil fuels. We have to understand that there are some that rely on carbon energy in their economies and lack simple solutions, and some where fossil fuels are the foundation of their economy.

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

Should the pledge gains enough backing, the summit could establish a forum in which the work of drawing up a roadmap to the transition could start.

The process would involve dialogue with all participating nations to the UN framework convention on climate change and guidelines for how the initiative would unfold, Silva explained. “Once we have standards, a governance structure can be drawn up; after we have a strategy, and establish safeguards to be able to build trust in the process, I am confident that with these components we can turn good ideas into actions that are more defined, and more concrete.”

There is no guarantee that a suggestion to start drawing up a plan would win approval at COP30, although it may not need the formal approval of the summit, which operates by consensus and can be disrupted by special interests. Climate experts have suggested they believe there could be backing for such a proposal from about 60 countries, but there are believed to be at least 40 against. A total of one hundred ninety-five nations represented at the talks.

“In spite of being the primary source of climate change, fossil fuels are about the most contentious subject there is within the international climate talks, so to see a chunky group of nations publicly supporting a path to achieving worldwide phaseout is in itself highly significant.”

“Put simply, there’s no path to a world where warming stays below 1.5C in which nations cannot to talk about fossil fuel phaseout.”

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

Discussions continued on the weekend on four unresolved topics that have not yet been included into the official agenda: trade, openness, funding and how to address the gap between the carbon reduction nations have planned and those required to hold to the 1.5C temperature target.

The COP30 president promised a “document” that would cover these issues, after consultations – which have been underway since Monday – were unresolved. He urged nations to embrace the “mutirão” spirit, referring to one of cooperation and positive dialogue.

Progress on other key topics – including adjustment to the impacts of the climate crisis, the fair shift for those affected by the move to a low-carbon economy and how to strengthen institutional capacity in less developed nations – proceeded productively, the host reported.

The host nation's chief negotiator stated the technical part of the COP proceedings was approaching the end, and the political stage – when ministers who have the power to alter their nations' positions join – was beginning.