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The climate chief, Marina Silva, has urged every country to demonstrate the bravery needed to confront the imperative of a worldwide fossil fuel phaseout, describing the creation of a roadmap as an “moral” response to the climate crisis.

The minister emphasized, though, that participation in this endeavor would be optional and “independently decided” for willing nations.

The topic stands as one of the most contentious matters at the COP30 in Brazil, with nations split over whether and in what way such a roadmap can be discussed. Hosting the event, Brazil has maintained a carefully neutral position on which items can be placed on the official schedule.

The official expressed approval for the possibility of a roadmap, without directly committing the country to it. The minister remarked: “In times we have a terrain that is quite grim, it is good that we have a map. But the map does not force us to proceed, or to climb.”

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

Dozens of nations meeting in the host city for the global climate conference, which is starting its second week, are aiming to establish how a worldwide transition of oil, gas, and coal could work. These nations aim to advance a historic resolution made two years ago at a previous UN summit to “move away from fossil fuels.”

That pledge had no a timetable or details on how it could be achieved, and although it was passed unanimously, several nations have later tried to disavow the promise. Attempts last year to expand on its real-world implications were stymied by opposition from petrostates at COP29.

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

Because of this, the host has been cautious of demands by some countries to include the transition on the schedule for COP30. But Silva has strived in private to ensure the topic could be talked about at the summit apart from the official program.

The minister won over the nation's president, and he made mention three times to the need to “shift from dependence on traditional energy” at the summit of world leaders that came before the conference, and at the start of the event.

“The issue is something that we understand at some point had to be put forward, because it is the sole way to face the issue from the root,” the minister said. “We recognise that it is challenging, and we cannot offer false hopes. Raising the topic is courageous, and I wish [to see] this bravery from all, from producing nations and using countries.”

Brazil had not started the push for a transition, the minister said, because that had been initiated at the earlier summit. Instead, it was allowing the talks to occur in line with what certain countries wished. “We understand these subjects are delicate. We will provide the opportunity to talk about it,” the minister said.

Time is insufficient at the summit to create a roadmap, a task the minister called could take several years because numerous countries confronted complicated issues around reliance on carbon-based energy, or aimed to use the proceeds from exporting fossil fuels to finance their development.

“The country raises the topic, because Brazil is simultaneously a producing nation and user,” the minister said. “But the nation is unique, because it, if it chooses to, need not depend on fossil fuels. We have to recognise that there are certain nations that depend on fossil fuels in their economic systems and don’t have easy alternatives, and some where fossil fuels are the basis of their economy.

“To be just is to be fair to everyone, but the essential, primordial justice is not being unjust to the Earth, because it is our shared home.”

If the proposal gains sufficient backing, COP30 could establish a platform in which the work of creating a roadmap to the transition could start.

This process would involve dialogue with all signatory countries to the UN climate treaty and criteria for how the process would proceed, Silva said. “After we have standards, a governance structure can be drawn up; after we have a plan, and create protections to be able to establish trust in the process, I am confident that with these components we can transform good ideas into actions that are clearer, and more concrete.”

It is uncertain that a suggestion to begin developing a plan would win approval at COP30, although it does not require the official consent of the conference, which operates by unanimous agreement and can be hijacked by particular groups. Climate experts have indicated they think there could be support for such a proposal from about 60 countries, but there are believed to be at least 40 against. There are one hundred ninety-five nations participating 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 international climate talks, so to see a sizable group of countries openly backing a route to realizing worldwide phaseout is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

“In simple terms, there’s no path to a world where temperature rise stays below 1.5C in which nations aren’t able to discuss ending fossil fuel use.”

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

Negotiations carried on on Saturday on several unresolved topics that have still not been incorporated into the official agenda: trade, transparency, finance and how to address the shortfall between the emissions cuts countries have proposed and those needed to hold to the 1.5-degree warming target.

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

Progress on additional substantive issues – including adaptation to the impacts of the climate emergency, the fair shift for those impacted by the transition to a low-carbon economy and how to strengthen institutional capacity in less developed nations – proceeded productively, the presidency reported.

Brazil’s lead representative said the detailed part of the summit proceedings was nearing the end, and the political phase – when government leaders who have the power to change their nations' stances join – was starting.