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The climate chief, the minister, has urged all nations to show the courage needed to address the imperative of a worldwide fossil fuel phaseout, describing the development of a detailed plan as an “moral” answer to the global warming emergency.

The minister stressed, however, that involvement in this process would be optional and “self-determined” for willing nations.

The topic stands as one of the most debated subjects at the COP30 in Brazil, with countries split over if and how such a strategy can be addressed. As the host, the nation has maintained a carefully neutral position on what can be placed on the formal schedule.

The official voiced approval for the potential of a plan, without explicitly committing Brazil to it. She stated: “When we have a terrain that is quite grim, it is helpful that we have a guide. But the map does not force us to travel, or to climb.”

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

Scores of countries 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 be implemented. These nations hope to advance a historic resolution reached two years ago at COP28 to “move away from fossil fuels.”

That commitment had no a timetable or specifics on how it could be achieved, and even though it was passed unanimously, some nations have later attempted to back away from the pledge. Efforts last year to expand on its real-world implications were stymied by resistance from petrostates at another UN summit.

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

For these reasons, Brazil has been wary of demands by certain nations to place the transition on the agenda for COP30. But Silva has worked hard in private to ensure the pledge could be talked about at the conference apart from the formal program.

The minister won over Brazil’s president, who gave public reference three times to the need to “shift from dependence on fossil fuels” at the summit of world leaders that preceded COP30, and at the start of the summit.

“The issue is a matter that we know at some point had to be raised, because it is the only way to face the problem from the source,” the minister said. “We acknowledge that it is not easy, and we must not offer unrealistic expectations. Bringing up the subject is brave, and I wish [to see] this courage from all, from producers and using countries.”

The nation had not started the call for a phaseout, she said, because that had been initiated at the earlier summit. Rather, it was allowing the talks to occur in accordance with what some nations desired. “We understand these subjects are delicate. We will give the chance to discuss it,” she said.

Time is insufficient at the summit to draw up a roadmap, a task Silva said could take a number of years because many countries confronted complex challenges around reliance on carbon-based energy, or aimed to use the revenue from selling fossil fuels to fund their economic growth.

“Brazil raises the subject, because Brazil is simultaneously a producing nation and user,” the minister said. “But Brazil is different, because Brazil, if it wants to, need not depend on non-renewables. We have to understand that there are certain nations that rely on fossil fuels in their economies and lack easy solutions, and some where oil and gas are the foundation of their economy.

“To be fair is to be fair to all, but the essential, primordial justice is not being unfair to the planet, because it is our shared home.”

Should the pledge gains enough backing, COP30 could set up a forum in which the process of drawing up a strategy to the phaseout could begin.

The endeavor would require discussions with all participating nations to the UN framework convention on climate change and criteria for how the initiative would unfold, the minister said. “After we have criteria, a governance structure can be developed; after we have a plan, and establish safeguards to be able to build confidence in the system, I believe that with these components we can transform good ideas into actions that are clearer, and more concrete.”

There is no guarantee that a proposal to start developing a plan would be accepted at the conference, although it may not need the official consent of the summit, which operates by consensus and can be hijacked by particular groups. COP analysts have indicated they think there could be support for such a idea from about 60 nations, but there are thought to be at least forty opposed. A total of 195 nations participating at the talks.

“Despite being the primary source of climate change, carbon-based energy are about the most contentious subject there is within the UN negotiations, so to see a sizable group of nations openly backing a path to realizing global transition is in itself highly significant.”

“Put simply, there’s no path to a world where temperature rise stays below 1.5C in which nations aren’t able to discuss fossil fuel phaseout.”

“We need this language for real in this discussion. It’s quite stupid that we discuss all topics but then when the main issue are the real challenge.”

Negotiations continued on the weekend on several unresolved topics that have still not been included into the formal agenda: trade, transparency, finance and how to address the shortfall between the emissions cuts countries have proposed and those needed to keep to the 1.5-degree warming target.

The COP30 chair pledged a “document” that would cover these matters, after discussions – which have been going on since the start of the week – were unresolved. He urged countries to adopt the “mutirão” attitude, meaning one of cooperation and positive discussion.

Progress on additional substantive topics – such as adjustment to the impacts of the climate crisis, the fair shift for those affected by the transition to a green economy and how to strengthen governance capabilities in less developed nations – carried on constructively, the presidency said.

The host nation's lead representative stated the technical part of the summit proceedings was nearing completion, and the high-level phase – when ministers who have the power to alter their countries’ positions join – was beginning.