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The environment minister, Marina Silva, has called on every country to show the courage needed to confront the imperative of a worldwide transition away from fossil fuels, labeling the creation of a roadmap as an “moral” response to the global warming emergency.

The minister stressed, however, that involvement in this process would be voluntary and “independently decided” for willing nations.

The topic remains one of the most debated subjects at the COP30 in Brazil, with nations divided over if and in what way such a strategy can be addressed. As the host, Brazil has maintained a carefully neutral stance on what can be included on the formal schedule.

Silva voiced support for the potential of a plan, without explicitly committing Brazil to it. The minister stated: “In times we have a situation that is quite grim, it is good that we have a guide. But the guide does not compel us to travel, or to advance.”

Speaking further, the minister added: “The roadmap is an response to our scientific knowledge [of the climate emergency]. It is an moral response.”

Scores of nations gathered in the host city for the global climate conference, which is starting its second week, are seeking to determine how a worldwide transition of fossil fuels could be implemented. They aim to build on a landmark agreement reached two years ago at COP28 to “transition away from non-renewable energy sources.”

The commitment had no a timetable or specifics on the way it could be realized, and although it was passed by all, some countries have since attempted to back away from the promise. Efforts last year to expand on its real-world implications were stymied by resistance from petrostates at another UN summit.

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

For these reasons, the host has been cautious of demands by some nations to include the phaseout on the agenda for the current summit. But Silva has strived in private to ensure the pledge could be talked about at the conference apart from the official program.

The minister won over the nation's president, and he made public reference three times to the need to “move away from reliance on traditional energy” at the summit of world leaders that preceded the conference, and at the opening of the summit.

“The issue is a matter that we understand at some point had to be put forward, because it is the sole way to address the problem from the root,” Marina Silva explained. “We recognise that it is not easy, and we cannot sell unrealistic expectations. Bringing up the topic is courageous, and I wish [to see] this bravery from all, from producers and consumers.”

The nation had not started the call for a transition, the minister said, because that had been initiated at the earlier summit. Rather, it was allowing the talks to take place in accordance with what some countries desired. “We understand these topics are delicate. We will provide the chance to talk about it,” she added.

Time is insufficient at COP30 to create a detailed plan, a process the minister called could take a number of years because many nations confronted complicated challenges around dependence on carbon-based energy, or aimed to use the proceeds from exporting oil and gas to fund their development.

“The country brings up the topic, because it is simultaneously a producer and user,” she said. “But Brazil is unique, because it, if it chooses to, need not rely on non-renewables. We have to understand that there are some that depend on carbon energy in their economic systems and don’t have simple solutions, and others where fossil fuels are the foundation of their economy.

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

Should the proposal receives enough support, COP30 could establish a platform in which the work of creating a roadmap to the phaseout could start.

This process would involve discussions with all participating nations to the UN framework convention on climate change and guidelines for how the process would proceed, the minister explained. “After we have standards, a management framework can be developed; after we have a strategy, and establish safeguards to be able to build trust in the process, I believe that with these components we can transform good ideas into actions that are more defined, and more tangible.”

There is no guarantee that a suggestion to begin developing a plan would win approval at the conference, even if it may not need the official approval of the conference, which proceeds by consensus and can be disrupted by special interests. COP experts have indicated they believe there could be support for such a idea from about sixty nations, but there are thought to be at least forty against. There are 195 countries participating at the talks.

“In spite of being the root cause of climate change, carbon-based energy are about the most contentious subject there is within the UN negotiations, so to see a sizable group of countries publicly backing a route to achieving worldwide transition is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

“Put simply, there’s no path to a world where temperature rise stays below 1.5C in which nations aren’t able to talk about ending fossil fuel use.”

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

Negotiations continued on the weekend on several outstanding issues that have not yet been incorporated into the formal agenda: trade, transparency, funding and how to tackle the gap between the emissions cuts countries have proposed and those needed to hold to the 1.5C warming limit.

The summit president pledged a “document” that would cover these matters, after discussions – which have been underway since Monday – were inconclusive. The official urged nations to adopt the “mutirão” spirit, meaning one of collaboration and positive dialogue.

Work on other key topics – including adaptation to the impacts of the climate crisis, the fair shift for those affected by the move to a low-carbon economy and how to build governance capabilities in developing countries – proceeded productively, the host reported.

Brazil’s lead representative stated the detailed part of the COP process was approaching the end, and the political stage – when ministers who have the authority to alter their countries’ positions arrive – was starting.