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The environment minister, the minister, has urged every country to show the bravery needed to address the imperative of a global transition away from fossil fuels, labeling the creation of a roadmap as an “ethical” answer to the climate crisis.

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

The topic remains one of the most debated matters at the UN climate summit in Brazil, with countries split over whether and how such a strategy can be addressed. Hosting the event, Brazil has maintained a carefully neutral position on which items can be placed on the formal agenda.

Silva expressed support for the potential of a plan, though not explicitly pledging Brazil to it. She remarked: “When we have a situation that is very challenging, it is good that we have a guide. But the guide does not compel us to proceed, or to advance.”

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

Scores of countries gathered in the host city for the UN climate summit, which is starting its second week, are seeking to determine how a global transition of fossil fuels could be implemented. These nations aim to build on a historic resolution made two years ago at COP28 to “transition away from non-renewable energy sources.”

The commitment lacked a schedule or details on the way it could be realized, and even though it was adopted unanimously, some countries have later attempted to back away from the promise. Efforts last year to elaborate on its real-world implications were blocked by resistance from oil-dependent nations at another UN summit.

Consequently, there was no mention of the shift away from fossil fuels in the final agreement of COP29.

Because of this, Brazil has been wary of demands by certain countries to include the transition on the agenda for COP30. But Silva has strived in private to make sure the pledge could be discussed at the conference outside the formal program.

She won over Brazil’s president, and he made public reference three times to the need to “move away from reliance on fossil fuels” at the summit of world leaders that preceded COP30, and at the start of the event.

“This is something that we understand at a certain time had to be raised, because it is the only way to face the problem from the source,” Marina Silva explained. “We recognise that it is challenging, and we must not offer unrealistic expectations. Bringing up the topic is brave, and I hope [to see] this bravery from all, from producers and consumers.”

Brazil had not initiated the push for a transition, she clarified, because that had been initiated at COP28. Instead, it was enabling the discussions to take place in line with what certain countries wished. “We understand these subjects are sensitive. We will provide the chance to discuss it,” she added.

Time is insufficient at the summit to create a detailed plan, a process the minister called could take a number of years because many countries faced complicated challenges around reliance on fossil fuels, or wanted to use the revenue from selling fossil fuels to finance their development.

“Brazil brings up the subject, because Brazil is simultaneously a producer and user,” she noted. “But the nation is unique, because it, if it wants to, does not have to rely on non-renewables. We have to recognise that there are certain nations that depend on carbon energy in their economies and don’t have easy alternatives, and others where fossil fuels are the foundation of their economy.

“To be just is to be fair to everyone, but the essential, primordial fairness is to avoid being unfair to the Earth, because it is our shared home.”

Should the pledge gains enough support, COP30 could set up a platform in which the work of creating a roadmap to the transition could begin.

The endeavor would involve discussions with all participating countries to the UN climate treaty and criteria for how the process would unfold, Silva explained. “After we have criteria, a governance structure can be drawn up; after we have a plan, and establish safeguards to be able to establish trust in the system, I am confident that with these elements we can turn good ideas into steps that are more defined, and more tangible.”

It is uncertain that a proposal to begin drawing up a roadmap would be accepted at COP30, even if it may not need the formal approval of the summit, which operates by consensus and can be hijacked by particular groups. Climate analysts have suggested they think there could be support for such a idea from about sixty nations, but there are believed to be at least forty opposed. There are 195 countries participating at the talks.

“In spite of being the root cause of global warming, fossil fuels are about the most contentious topic there is within the UN negotiations, so to see a sizable coalition of countries publicly backing a path to realizing worldwide transition is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

“In simple terms, there’s no path to a world where warming stays below 1.5C in which countries aren’t able to talk about ending fossil fuel use.”

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

Discussions continued on the weekend on four unresolved topics that have not yet been incorporated into the official schedule: trade, transparency, funding and how to address the gap between the carbon reduction nations have proposed and those needed to hold to the 1.5-degree temperature limit.

The COP30 president pledged a “note” that would address these matters, after discussions – which have been underway since the start of the week – were inconclusive. He urged nations to adopt the “mutirão” spirit, meaning one of cooperation and positive dialogue.

Work on other substantive topics – such as adjustment to the effects of the climate crisis, the fair shift for those affected by the move to a low-carbon economy and how to strengthen governance capabilities in less developed nations – carried on constructively, the host reported.

Brazil’s chief negotiator stated the technical part of the COP proceedings was approaching completion, and the high-level stage – when ministers who have the power to change their countries’ stances arrive – was starting.