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The climate chief, the minister, has called on every country to demonstrate the courage needed to address the necessity of a worldwide transition away from fossil fuels, labeling the development of a detailed plan as an “moral” answer to the global warming emergency.

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

This issue remains one of the most debated subjects at the UN climate summit in Brazil, with countries divided over if and how such a roadmap can be addressed. Hosting the event, the nation has maintained a carefully neutral stance on what can be included on the official schedule.

The official voiced support for the potential of a roadmap, though not directly pledging Brazil to it. The minister stated: “In times we have a situation that is very challenging, it is helpful that we have a map. But the guide does not force us to travel, or to advance.”

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

Scores of countries meeting in Belém for the global climate conference, which is starting its second week, are seeking to establish how a worldwide phaseout of oil, gas, and coal could be implemented. These nations hope to build on a landmark resolution made two years ago at COP28 to “transition away from fossil fuels.”

The pledge lacked a schedule or specifics on the way it could be realized, and although it was passed unanimously, several nations have since attempted to disavow the pledge. Efforts last year to elaborate on its practical implications were stymied by opposition from oil-dependent nations at another UN summit.

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

For these reasons, the host has been cautious of calls by certain countries to place the transition on the schedule for the current summit. But Silva has worked hard in private to make sure the pledge could be talked about at the conference outside the official agenda.

She convinced Brazil’s president, who gave public reference three times to the need to “move away from dependence on fossil fuels” at the summit of world leaders that preceded COP30, and at the opening of the summit.

“This is a matter that we understand at a certain time had to be put forward, because it is the only way to face the problem from the root,” the minister explained. “We acknowledge that it is challenging, and we must not offer false hopes. Bringing up the topic is courageous, and I hope [to see] this courage from all, from producing nations and using countries.”

Brazil had not initiated the call for a phaseout, she clarified, because that had been done at the earlier summit. Instead, it was allowing the talks to occur in line with what some nations wished. “We understand these subjects are sensitive. We will provide the chance to talk about it,” she said.

Time is insufficient at the summit to create a detailed plan, a task the minister said could take a number of years because numerous nations faced complicated issues around reliance on carbon-based energy, or wanted to use the revenue from selling fossil fuels to fund their economic growth.

“Brazil brings up the subject, because Brazil is simultaneously a producing nation and consumer,” she said. “But Brazil is unique, because it, if it chooses to, does not have to depend on fossil fuels. We have to understand that there are some that rely on carbon energy in their economic systems and lack simple alternatives, and others where oil and gas are the foundation of their economic structure.

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

Should the pledge gains enough support, COP30 could establish a platform in which the work of drawing up a strategy to the phaseout could begin.

This process would involve dialogue with every participating countries to the UN climate treaty and criteria for how the initiative would proceed, the minister said. “Once we have criteria, a governance structure can be developed; once 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 transform positive concepts into steps that are more defined, and more concrete.”

There is no guarantee that a proposal to begin drawing up a plan would be accepted at COP30, although it may not need the official consent of the summit, which proceeds by unanimous agreement and can be hijacked by special interests. COP analysts have suggested they think there could be backing for such a proposal from about 60 countries, but there are thought to be at least forty against. A total of one hundred ninety-five countries represented at the negotiations.

“In spite of being the root cause of climate change, carbon-based energy are about the most contentious topic there is within the UN negotiations, so to see a sizable group of countries openly supporting a route to achieving global transition is in itself highly significant.”

“Put simply, there’s no path to a world where temperature rise remains below 1.5 degrees in which countries aren’t able to discuss ending fossil fuel use.”

“We require this wording for actual in this conversation. It’s highly illogical that we talk about everything but that when fossil fuels are the real challenge.”

Discussions carried on on the weekend on several outstanding issues that have still not been incorporated into the official schedule: commerce, transparency, funding and how to tackle the shortfall between the carbon reduction countries have proposed and those required to hold to the 1.5-degree temperature limit.

The summit president pledged a “note” that would cover these issues, after discussions – which have been going on since Monday – were unresolved. The official called on countries to embrace the “mutirão” attitude, meaning one of collaboration and constructive dialogue.

Progress on other substantive topics – including adjustment to the effects of the climate emergency, the fair shift for those affected by the transition to a low-carbon economic system and how to strengthen governance capabilities in developing countries – proceeded productively, the presidency reported.

The host nation's chief negotiator said the detailed phase of the summit proceedings was approaching the end, and the high-level phase – when ministers who have the authority to change their countries’ positions arrive – was starting.