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Brazil’s climate chief, Marina Silva, has called on every country to show the bravery needed to confront the imperative of a worldwide fossil fuel phaseout, describing the development of a detailed plan as an “ethical” response to the global warming emergency.

She stressed, though, that participation in this process would be voluntary and “independently decided” for interested governments.

The topic stands as one of the most debated subjects at the COP30 in the host country, with countries split over whether and in what way such a strategy can be addressed. Hosting the event, the nation has maintained a balanced stance on which items can be included on the official schedule.

Silva voiced approval for the possibility of a roadmap, though not directly pledging Brazil to it. She stated: “In times we have a terrain that is very challenging, it is good that we have a guide. But the map does not compel us to travel, or to climb.”

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

Scores of countries meeting 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 be implemented. They aim to build on a historic agreement reached two years ago at COP28 to “transition away from non-renewable energy sources.”

That commitment lacked a schedule or details on how it could be realized, and even though it was passed by all, some countries have since attempted to back away from the pledge. Attempts last year to expand on its real-world meaning were blocked by resistance from petrostates at COP29.

Consequently, there was no mention of the shift away from carbon fuels in the final agreement of that conference.

For these reasons, Brazil has been wary of demands by some countries to place the phaseout on the agenda for COP30. But Silva has strived in private to make sure the topic could be discussed at the summit outside the formal program.

She won over the nation's president, and he gave mention repeatedly to the need to “shift from dependence on traditional energy” at the global leaders' meeting that preceded the conference, and at the opening of the summit.

“The issue is a matter that we know at some point had to be put forward, because it is the only way to address the problem from the root,” the minister explained. “We acknowledge that it is not easy, and we must not sell unrealistic expectations. Bringing up the topic is courageous, and I wish [to see] this courage from everyone, from producers and consumers.”

Brazil had not started the push for a phaseout, she clarified, because that had been initiated at COP28. Rather, it was enabling the talks to occur in accordance with what some nations wished. “We know these topics are delicate. We will give the chance to discuss it,” she said.

Time is insufficient at COP30 to draw up a roadmap, a process the minister said could take several years because numerous nations faced complex issues around reliance on fossil fuels, or aimed to use the revenue from exporting oil and gas to finance their economic growth.

“The country brings up the topic, because Brazil is both a producing nation and user,” she noted. “But Brazil is different, because it, if it chooses to, does not have to depend on fossil fuels. We have to recognise that there are certain nations that depend on fossil fuels in their economic systems and lack easy alternatives, and some where fossil fuels are the basis of their economic structure.

“To be just is to be fair to everyone, but the essential, primordial justice is to avoid being unjust to the planet, because it is our shared home.”

If the proposal receives enough backing, the summit could set up a forum in which the work of drawing up a strategy to the phaseout could begin.

The process would involve discussions with all signatory countries to the UN climate treaty and criteria for how the initiative would proceed, Silva said. “After we have criteria, a governance structure can be developed; once we have a strategy, and create protections to be able to establish trust in the system, I am confident that with these components we can turn positive concepts into actions that are more defined, and more concrete.”

There is no guarantee that a proposal to start developing a plan would be accepted at COP30, even if it does not require the official approval of the summit, which operates by unanimous agreement and can be disrupted by special interests. Climate experts have indicated they believe there could be backing for such a proposal from about sixty countries, but there are thought to be at least forty opposed. There are 195 countries participating at the negotiations.

“In spite of being the primary source of global warming, fossil fuels are about the most divisive subject there is within the international climate talks, so to see a chunky coalition of nations publicly backing a route to realizing global transition is in itself highly significant.”

“In simple terms, there’s no route to a world where temperature rise remains below 1.5C in which nations cannot to talk about fossil fuel phaseout.”

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

Negotiations carried on on the weekend on four outstanding issues that have still not been incorporated into the formal schedule: commerce, transparency, finance and how to tackle the shortfall between the emissions cuts countries have planned and those required to hold to the 1.5-degree temperature target.

The COP30 chair pledged a “document” that would cover these issues, after consultations – which have been going on since Monday – were inconclusive. The official called on countries to adopt the “mutirão” attitude, meaning one of cooperation and constructive dialogue.

Work on additional substantive issues – such as adjustment to the impacts of the climate crisis, the fair shift for those affected by the transition to a low-carbon economic system and how to strengthen institutional capacity in less developed nations – proceeded constructively, the host said.

The host nation's lead representative stated the technical phase of the summit proceedings was approaching the end, and the political phase – when ministers who have the authority to change their countries’ stances arrive – was beginning.