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Brazil’s climate chief, Marina Silva, has urged every country to show the courage needed to confront the necessity of a worldwide transition away from fossil fuels, labeling the creation of a detailed plan as an “moral” answer to the global warming emergency.

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

This issue remains one of the most contentious matters at the COP30 in the host country, with countries divided over whether and how such a roadmap can be addressed. Hosting the event, the nation has adopted a balanced stance on which items can be placed on the formal schedule.

The official expressed approval for the potential of a plan, though not explicitly pledging Brazil to it. The minister stated: “In times we have a terrain that is quite grim, it is helpful that we have a map. But the guide does not force us to proceed, or to climb.”

In an interview, the minister noted: “The roadmap is an response to our scientific understanding [of the climate emergency]. It is an moral answer.”

Dozens of countries meeting in Belém for the UN climate summit, which is starting its next phase, are aiming to determine how a worldwide transition of oil, gas, and coal could work. They hope to build on a landmark resolution made two years ago at a previous UN summit to “transition away from fossil fuels.”

That commitment had no a timetable or specifics on the way it could be realized, and although it was adopted unanimously, several countries have since tried to disavow the pledge. Attempts last year to elaborate on its real-world implications were blocked by opposition from oil-dependent nations at another UN summit.

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

For these reasons, the host has been wary of demands by some nations to include the phaseout on the schedule for the current summit. But the minister has worked hard behind the scenes to make sure the pledge could be discussed at the summit outside the formal agenda.

She convinced Brazil’s president, who gave public reference repeatedly 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 event.

“The issue is a matter that we know at a certain time had to be put forward, because it is the only way to face the issue from the root,” Marina Silva said. “We recognise that it is not easy, and we must not offer unrealistic expectations. Raising the topic is courageous, and I wish [to see] this bravery from everyone, from producers and using countries.”

The nation had not started the call for a phaseout, she clarified, because that had been done at the earlier summit. Rather, it was allowing the discussions to take place in accordance with what some countries wished. “We understand these subjects are sensitive. We will give the opportunity to discuss it,” the minister said.

There is not enough time at COP30 to create a detailed plan, a task the minister said could take a number of years because many nations faced complex challenges around reliance on fossil fuels, or wanted to use the proceeds from exporting fossil fuels to fund their development.

“Brazil brings up the subject, because it is both a producing nation and user,” the minister noted. “But the nation is different, because Brazil, if it wants to, does not have to rely on fossil fuels. We have to recognise that there are some that depend on carbon energy in their economies and lack simple solutions, and others where fossil fuels are the basis of their economy.

“To be just is to be fair to all, but the essential, primordial justice is to avoid being unjust to the Earth, because it is our home.”

Should the proposal receives enough support, COP30 could set up a forum in which the process of creating a roadmap to the transition could begin.

This endeavor would involve discussions with every signatory nations to the UN framework convention on climate change and criteria for how the initiative would unfold, Silva said. “Once we have criteria, a governance structure can be drawn up; once we have a strategy, and create safeguards to be able to establish confidence in the system, I believe that with these elements we can transform positive concepts into steps that are more defined, and more tangible.”

There is no guarantee that a suggestion to begin developing a roadmap would win approval at COP30, even if it may not need the official consent of the conference, which operates by unanimous agreement and can be hijacked by special interests. COP analysts have suggested they think there could be backing for such a idea from about sixty nations, but there are thought to be at least 40 against. A total of one hundred ninety-five nations participating at the negotiations.

“Despite being the root cause of climate change, carbon-based energy are about the most contentious subject there is within the international climate talks, so to see a chunky coalition of nations publicly backing a route to achieving worldwide phaseout is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

“Put simply, there’s no path to a world where warming remains below 1.5 degrees in which nations cannot to discuss ending fossil fuel use.”

“We require this language for actual in this discussion. It’s quite stupid that we discuss everything but then when the main issue are the actual problem.”

Negotiations carried on on Saturday on several unresolved topics that have not yet been included into the formal agenda: commerce, openness, funding and how to address the gap between the carbon reduction countries have proposed and those required to keep to the 1.5C temperature limit.

A summit president promised a “document” that would address these issues, after consultations – which have been underway since Monday – were inconclusive. The official called on countries to adopt the “mutirão” attitude, meaning one of collaboration and positive discussion.

Work on other key topics – such as adaptation to the effects of the climate emergency, the fair shift for those impacted by the transition to a green economic system and how to strengthen governance capabilities in less developed nations – proceeded productively, the presidency said.

Brazil’s chief negotiator stated the technical phase of the summit proceedings was approaching completion, and the political stage – when government leaders who have the power to change their countries’ positions join – was starting.