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Brazil’s climate chief, the minister, has urged every country to show the courage 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 process would be voluntary and “self-determined” for interested governments.

This issue remains one of the most debated subjects at the COP30 in the host country, with countries split over whether and how such a roadmap can be addressed. As the host, Brazil has maintained a balanced position on what can be placed on the official agenda.

Silva expressed approval for the possibility of a plan, though not directly pledging the country to it. She remarked: “When we have a situation that is quite grim, it is helpful that we have a guide. But the map does not compel us to proceed, or to advance.”

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

Scores of nations meeting in the host city for the UN climate summit, which is entering its next phase, are aiming to establish how a worldwide transition of fossil fuels could work. They hope to advance a historic agreement reached two years ago at COP28 to “move away from fossil fuels.”

The pledge lacked a schedule or specifics on how it could be achieved, and although it was passed by all, some nations have later attempted to back away from the pledge. Attempts last year to expand on its real-world meaning were blocked by opposition from oil-dependent nations at COP29.

Consequently, there was no reference of the transition away from carbon fuels in the outcome of COP29.

Because of this, Brazil has been wary of calls by certain countries to place the transition on the schedule for the current summit. But Silva has strived in private to ensure the topic could be talked about at the summit outside the formal program.

The minister convinced Brazil’s president, and he made mention repeatedly to the need to “move away from reliance on fossil fuels” at the global leaders' meeting that preceded COP30, and at the start of the event.

“The issue is a matter that we understand at a certain time had to be raised, because it is the only way to face the problem from the source,” Marina Silva said. “We recognise that it is not easy, and we cannot offer false hopes. Bringing up the topic is courageous, and I wish [to see] this courage from everyone, from producing nations and consumers.”

Brazil had not started the call for a transition, she clarified, because that had been initiated at COP28. Instead, it was enabling the discussions to occur in accordance with what some countries wished. “We know these subjects are delicate. We will provide the opportunity to talk about it,” the minister added.

There is not enough time at the summit to draw up a detailed plan, a process Silva called could take a number of years because many countries confronted complex issues around reliance on carbon-based energy, or wanted to use the revenue from exporting oil and gas to fund their economic growth.

“Brazil brings up the subject, because Brazil is simultaneously a producing nation and user,” she noted. “But the nation is unique, because Brazil, if it chooses to, does not have to rely on non-renewables. We have to recognise that there are some that rely on carbon energy in their economies and don’t have simple solutions, and others where oil and gas are the foundation of their economic structure.

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

Should the pledge gains enough support, COP30 could establish a forum in which the work of creating a roadmap to the transition could begin.

This endeavor would involve discussions with all participating nations to the UN framework convention on climate change and guidelines for how the initiative would unfold, Silva explained. “After we have standards, a management framework can be drawn up; after we have a strategy, and establish protections to be able to build trust in the process, I am confident that with these elements we can turn positive concepts into actions that are more defined, and more concrete.”

It is uncertain that a suggestion to start drawing up a plan would be accepted at the conference, although it does not require the official consent of the conference, which proceeds by unanimous agreement and can be hijacked by special interests. Climate analysts have indicated they believe there could be support 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 global warming, carbon-based energy are about the most contentious topic there is within the UN negotiations, so to see a sizable coalition of countries openly backing a path to achieving global phaseout is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

“In simple terms, there’s no route to a planet where warming remains below 1.5 degrees in which countries cannot to discuss ending fossil fuel use.”

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

Negotiations continued on Saturday on several outstanding topics that have not yet been included into the official schedule: trade, transparency, funding and how to tackle the gap between the emissions cuts nations have planned and those required to hold to the 1.5-degree temperature target.

A summit president promised a “document” that would address these matters, after consultations – which have been going on since Monday – were unresolved. The official urged countries to adopt the “mutirão” spirit, referring to one of collaboration and constructive discussion.

Progress on other substantive topics – such as adaptation to the impacts of the climate emergency, the fair shift for those affected by the transition to a green economic system and how to build institutional capacity in developing countries – proceeded constructively, the presidency said.

The host nation's chief negotiator stated the detailed phase of the COP proceedings was nearing the end, and the political stage – when ministers who have the authority to change their countries’ stances join – was beginning.