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The climate chief, the minister, has urged all nations to show the bravery needed to address the imperative of a global transition away from fossil fuels, describing the development of a roadmap as an “moral” answer to the global warming emergency.

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

The topic remains one of the most debated subjects at the UN climate summit in Brazil, with nations split over if and in what way such a roadmap can be discussed. As the host, the nation has adopted a balanced stance on what can be placed on the official agenda.

The official expressed support for the potential of a roadmap, without directly committing Brazil to it. She stated: “In times we have a terrain that is very challenging, it is good that we have a map. But the guide does not compel us to travel, or to climb.”

In an interview, she added: “The map is an answer to our scientific understanding [of the climate crisis]. It is an moral answer.”

Dozens of nations gathered in Belém for the UN climate summit, which is starting its next phase, are seeking to determine how a global transition of oil, gas, and coal could work. They hope to build on a historic resolution made two years ago at COP28 to “move away from fossil fuels.”

The commitment lacked a schedule or details on the way it could be achieved, and even though it was adopted unanimously, some nations have since tried to back away from the promise. Attempts last year to expand on its practical implications were stymied by resistance from petrostates at another UN summit.

Consequently, there was no reference of the shift away from carbon fuels in the outcome of that conference.

Because of this, the host has been wary of demands by certain countries to include the phaseout on the agenda for the current summit. But Silva has worked hard in private to make sure the topic could be talked about at the conference outside the formal program.

She won over Brazil’s leader, and he gave mention repeatedly to the need to “shift from reliance on traditional energy” at the global leaders' meeting that preceded the conference, and at the start of the event.

“This is a matter that we understand at a certain time had to be put forward, because it is the only way to address the problem from the source,” Marina Silva said. “We acknowledge that it is not easy, and we cannot sell false hopes. Bringing up the topic is brave, and I hope [to see] this courage from everyone, from producing nations and consumers.”

The nation had not initiated the push for a transition, she clarified, because that had been initiated at COP28. Instead, it was allowing the talks to take place in accordance with what some countries wished. “We know these subjects are delicate. We will give the opportunity to talk about it,” the minister said.

There is not enough time at COP30 to create a roadmap, a process Silva called could take several years because numerous nations faced complicated challenges around reliance on carbon-based energy, or aimed to use the proceeds from exporting fossil fuels to fund their development.

“The country raises the subject, because it is simultaneously a producing nation and user,” she noted. “But the nation is unique, because Brazil, if it wants to, does not have to depend on non-renewables. We have to recognise that there are certain nations that rely on carbon energy in their economic systems and lack simple alternatives, and some where oil and gas are the basis of their economy.

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

Should the proposal gains sufficient support, COP30 could set up a forum in which the process of drawing up a roadmap to the transition could begin.

This process would require discussions with all participating countries to the UN framework convention on climate change and guidelines for how the process would unfold, the minister explained. “Once we have criteria, a management framework can be drawn up; once we have a plan, and create protections to be able to build trust in the process, I believe that with these components we can transform good ideas into steps that are more defined, and more concrete.”

It is uncertain that a suggestion to start drawing up a roadmap would be accepted at COP30, although it may not need the formal consent of the conference, which proceeds by consensus and can be disrupted by special interests. Climate experts have indicated they think there could be support for such a proposal from about 60 countries, but there are thought to be at least forty against. There are one hundred ninety-five nations participating at the talks.

“In spite of being the root cause of global warming, carbon-based energy are about the most divisive topic there is within the international climate talks, so to see a sizable coalition of countries publicly supporting a route to achieving worldwide phaseout is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

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

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

Negotiations continued on the weekend on several unresolved topics that have still not been included into the official schedule: trade, transparency, funding and how to address the gap between the emissions cuts countries have proposed and those needed to hold to the 1.5C temperature target.

The summit president pledged a “note” that would cover these issues, after discussions – which have been underway since Monday – were inconclusive. He urged countries to adopt the “mutirão” spirit, referring to one of collaboration and constructive discussion.

Progress on other key topics – including adjustment to the effects of the climate emergency, the fair shift for those impacted by the transition to a green economic system and how to strengthen governance capabilities in developing countries – carried on productively, the presidency reported.

The host nation's lead representative said the technical part of the summit proceedings was approaching the end, and the high-level stage – when ministers who have the power to alter their nations' stances arrive – was starting.