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The climate chief, Marina Silva, has urged every country to demonstrate the bravery needed to address the imperative of a worldwide transition away from fossil fuels, describing the development of a detailed plan as an “moral” answer to the global warming emergency.

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

The topic stands as one of the most contentious matters at the COP30 in Brazil, with nations split over if and how such a roadmap can be discussed. As the host, Brazil has adopted a carefully neutral stance on which items can be placed on the formal agenda.

Silva voiced support for the potential of a roadmap, without explicitly pledging the country to it. She stated: “When we have a terrain that is quite grim, it is good that we have a map. But the map does not force us to travel, or to advance.”

Speaking further, she noted: “The roadmap is an answer to our scientific knowledge [of the climate crisis]. It is an ethical answer.”

Dozens of nations meeting in Belém for the UN climate summit, which is entering its next phase, are seeking to determine how a worldwide transition of oil, gas, and coal could be implemented. They hope to advance a historic agreement made two years ago at COP28 to “transition away from fossil fuels.”

The commitment lacked a timetable or details on how it could be achieved, and even though it was adopted by all, several nations have since tried to disavow the promise. Attempts last year to elaborate on its real-world implications were stymied by opposition from petrostates at another UN summit.

As a result, there was no mention of the transition away from fossil fuels in the outcome of that conference.

For these reasons, the host has been cautious of demands by some countries to include the phaseout on the schedule for the current summit. But the minister has strived behind the scenes to make sure the pledge could be discussed at the summit outside the formal program.

She won over Brazil’s leader, who made mention three times to the need to “move away from dependence on traditional energy” at the summit of world leaders that preceded COP30, and at the opening of the event.

“This is something that we understand at some point had to be put forward, because it is the only way to address the problem from the root,” Marina Silva explained. “We recognise that it is challenging, and we must not offer unrealistic expectations. Bringing up the topic is brave, and I wish [to see] this bravery from everyone, from producers and using countries.”

The nation had not started the push for a transition, she clarified, because that had been initiated at the earlier summit. Instead, it was enabling the talks to take place in accordance with what some nations wished. “We understand these subjects are sensitive. We will provide the chance to discuss it,” the minister said.

There is not enough time at the summit to create a detailed plan, a task the minister said could take a number of years because numerous nations faced complex challenges around reliance on carbon-based energy, or wanted to use the proceeds from exporting oil and gas to fund their economic growth.

“Brazil brings up the topic, because it is both a producing nation and user,” she noted. “But Brazil is different, because it, if it chooses to, does not have to rely on fossil fuels. We have to recognise that there are some that depend on fossil fuels in their economic systems and lack simple solutions, and some where fossil fuels are the basis of their economy.

“To be just is to be just to everyone, but the fundamental, primordial justice is not being unfair to the Earth, because it is our home.”

If the proposal gains sufficient backing, COP30 could establish a forum in which the process of drawing up a strategy to the phaseout could begin.

This endeavor would involve discussions with all participating countries to the UN framework convention on climate change and guidelines for how the initiative would proceed, Silva explained. “Once we have standards, a governance structure can be developed; once we have a plan, and establish protections to be able to build trust in the process, I am confident that with these elements we can turn good ideas into steps that are more defined, and more concrete.”

There is no guarantee that a suggestion to start drawing up a roadmap would win approval at the conference, although it does not require the official approval of the summit, which proceeds by unanimous agreement and can be hijacked by special interests. Climate analysts have indicated they think there could be backing for such a idea from about sixty countries, but there are believed to be at least 40 against. There are 195 nations participating at the negotiations.

“In spite of being the primary source of climate change, fossil fuels are about the most contentious subject there is within the international climate talks, so to see a chunky group of nations openly backing a path to achieving worldwide transition is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

“In simple terms, there’s no route to a world where temperature rise stays below 1.5 degrees in which nations aren’t able to talk about fossil fuel phaseout.”

“We need this wording for actual in this discussion. It’s quite stupid that we discuss everything but then when fossil fuels are the real problem.”

Negotiations carried on on Saturday on four unresolved topics that have still not been included into the formal schedule: trade, openness, finance and how to address the gap between the emissions cuts nations have proposed and those required to keep to the 1.5-degree warming limit.

The summit president pledged a “note” that would address these matters, after consultations – which have been going on since the start of the week – were unresolved. He urged countries to adopt the “mutirão” spirit, meaning one of collaboration and constructive dialogue.

Work on other key issues – including adjustment to the effects of the climate crisis, the fair shift for those affected by the move to a low-carbon economic system and how to build governance capabilities in developing countries – proceeded productively, the presidency said.

Brazil’s lead representative stated the technical part of the summit process was nearing completion, and the political phase – when ministers who have the power to change their countries’ stances join – was beginning.