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The environment minister, Marina Silva, has urged every country to show the bravery needed to confront the imperative of a global fossil fuel phaseout, describing the development of a roadmap as an “ethical” response to the climate crisis.

She stressed, however, that involvement in this endeavor would be voluntary and “independently decided” for willing nations.

This issue remains one of the most contentious matters at the UN climate summit in the host country, with nations divided over whether and how such a roadmap can be addressed. As the host, Brazil has maintained a balanced position on which items can be placed on the formal agenda.

The official voiced approval for the possibility of a roadmap, though not explicitly committing Brazil to it. The minister remarked: “In times we have a terrain that is quite grim, it is good that we have a guide. But the map does not force us to travel, or to climb.”

Speaking further, the minister noted: “The map is an response to our scientific understanding [of the climate crisis]. It is an ethical response.”

Dozens of countries meeting in the host city for the global climate conference, which is entering its next phase, are aiming to determine how a worldwide transition of fossil fuels could be implemented. These nations aim to advance a historic agreement made two years ago at a previous UN summit to “transition away from fossil fuels.”

That pledge had no a schedule or specifics on the way it could be achieved, and even though it was adopted by all, several countries have since tried to disavow the promise. Attempts last year to elaborate on its practical meaning were blocked 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.

For these reasons, the host has been cautious of demands by certain nations to place the phaseout on the agenda for COP30. But Silva has strived in private to ensure the pledge could be talked about at the conference outside the formal program.

The minister won over Brazil’s president, who gave mention three times to the need to “shift from reliance on traditional energy” at the global leaders' meeting that preceded COP30, and at the start of the event.

“The issue is a matter that we understand at some point had to be raised, because it is the sole way to face the issue from the source,” the minister said. “We recognise that it is challenging, and we must not offer false hopes. Bringing up the subject is courageous, and I hope [to see] this courage from all, from producing nations and consumers.”

The nation had not started the call for a phaseout, she clarified, because that had been done at COP28. Rather, it was enabling the talks to take place in accordance with what certain nations wished. “We understand these subjects are delicate. We will give the opportunity to talk about it,” the minister added.

Time is insufficient at the summit to draw up a detailed plan, a process the minister said could take a number of years because many countries faced complicated issues around reliance on carbon-based energy, or wanted to use the proceeds from selling oil and gas to finance their economic growth.

“The country raises the topic, because Brazil is both a producing nation and user,” the minister noted. “But Brazil is unique, because it, if it chooses to, need not depend on fossil fuels. We have to recognise that there are some that rely on carbon energy in their economic systems and lack easy alternatives, and some where oil and gas are the foundation of their economic structure.

“To be just is to be fair to all, but the fundamental, basic fairness is to avoid being unjust to the Earth, because it is our home.”

If the pledge receives enough support, COP30 could set up a platform in which the process of creating a roadmap to the phaseout could begin.

The process would require discussions with all participating countries to the UN framework convention on climate change and guidelines for how the process would unfold, the minister explained. “After we have criteria, a governance structure can be drawn up; once we have a plan, and create safeguards to be able to establish confidence in the process, I believe that with these components we can turn positive concepts into actions that are clearer, and more tangible.”

It is uncertain that a suggestion to begin developing a plan would win approval at COP30, although it does not require the official approval of the conference, which operates by consensus and can be hijacked by special interests. Climate experts have indicated they think there could be backing for such a proposal from about sixty nations, but there are thought to be at least forty opposed. A total of 195 countries participating at the negotiations.

“Despite being the primary source of global warming, fossil fuels are about the most divisive subject there is within the international climate talks, so to see a chunky group of countries openly supporting a route to realizing global transition is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

“Put simply, there’s no route to a world where warming stays below 1.5C in which nations cannot to talk about ending fossil fuel use.”

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

Negotiations continued on Saturday on several outstanding topics that have not yet been incorporated into the official schedule: commerce, openness, finance and how to address the gap between the emissions cuts countries have proposed and those needed to keep to the 1.5-degree warming limit.

A summit president promised a “document” that would address these issues, after discussions – which have been underway since Monday – were inconclusive. He called on countries to embrace the “mutirão” spirit, referring to one of cooperation and constructive discussion.

Progress on additional key topics – such as adjustment to the effects of the climate crisis, the just transition for those impacted by the transition to a low-carbon economic system and how to build governance capabilities in developing countries – carried on constructively, the host reported.

Brazil’s lead representative stated the detailed phase of the summit process was nearing completion, and the high-level phase – when ministers who have the authority to alter their nations' stances arrive – was beginning.