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Brazil’s climate chief, the minister, has urged all nations to show the bravery needed to confront the necessity of a worldwide fossil fuel phaseout, describing the creation of a detailed plan as an “ethical” response to the climate crisis.

She stressed, though, that participation in this process would be voluntary and “independently decided” for willing governments.

The topic remains one of the most debated subjects at the COP30 in Brazil, with nations split over if and how such a roadmap can be addressed. As the host, the nation has maintained a carefully neutral stance on what can be included on the official agenda.

The official voiced approval for the possibility of a roadmap, without explicitly committing Brazil to it. She stated: “In times we have a terrain that is very challenging, it is helpful that we have a guide. But the guide does not compel us to proceed, or to advance.”

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

Dozens of countries gathered in the host city for the UN climate summit, which is entering its next phase, are aiming to determine how a worldwide phaseout of oil, gas, and coal could work. These nations aim to build on a landmark resolution reached two years ago at COP28 to “transition away from fossil fuels.”

The pledge had no a schedule or specifics on how it could be realized, and although it was passed by all, some countries have since tried to back away from the pledge. Efforts last year to elaborate on its real-world meaning were stymied by opposition from oil-dependent nations at COP29.

As a result, there was no reference of the shift away from carbon fuels in the final agreement of COP29.

Because of this, Brazil has been wary of demands by some nations to include the transition on the agenda for the current summit. But the minister has worked hard behind the scenes to make sure the topic could be talked about at the summit outside the official program.

The minister won over Brazil’s leader, who gave public reference three times to the need to “shift from dependence on traditional energy” at the global leaders' meeting that preceded COP30, and at the opening of the event.

“This is a matter that we know at a certain time had to be put forward, because it is the only way to face the problem from the source,” Marina Silva said. “We acknowledge that it is challenging, and we cannot sell unrealistic expectations. Bringing up the subject is brave, and I wish [to see] this bravery from all, from producing nations and consumers.”

Brazil 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 occur in line with what certain countries wished. “We know these subjects are sensitive. We will provide the chance to discuss it,” the minister said.

There is not enough time at COP30 to create a detailed plan, a task the minister called could take a number of years because many countries faced complex issues around dependence on fossil fuels, or aimed to use the proceeds from exporting fossil fuels to fund their development.

“Brazil raises the subject, because Brazil is both a producing nation and user,” the minister said. “But the nation is different, 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 economic systems and don’t have simple alternatives, and others where fossil fuels are the foundation of their economic structure.

“To be just is to be fair to everyone, but the essential, basic fairness is not being unjust to the Earth, because it is our shared home.”

Should the proposal gains sufficient backing, the summit could set up a forum in which the process of creating a strategy to the phaseout could start.

The process would involve dialogue with every participating countries to the UN framework convention on climate change and criteria for how the process would proceed, Silva said. “Once we have standards, a management framework can be drawn up; once we have a plan, and establish protections to be able to build trust in the process, I believe that with these components we can turn good ideas into steps that are more defined, and more concrete.”

It is uncertain that a suggestion to begin developing a roadmap would be accepted at COP30, although it may not need the formal approval of the conference, which operates by unanimous agreement and can be disrupted by special interests. COP analysts have indicated they believe there could be backing for such a proposal from about sixty nations, but there are thought to be at least forty against. A total of one hundred ninety-five countries represented at the talks.

“Despite being the root cause of climate change, carbon-based energy are about the most divisive topic there is within the UN negotiations, so to see a chunky group of nations openly supporting a route to achieving worldwide transition is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

“In simple terms, there’s no path to a planet where temperature rise remains below 1.5 degrees in which countries cannot to discuss fossil fuel phaseout.”

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

Discussions carried on on Saturday on several unresolved topics that have still not been included into the official schedule: trade, openness, funding and how to address the shortfall between the carbon reduction nations have proposed and those needed to keep to the 1.5-degree temperature limit.

The summit president promised a “document” that would address these matters, after consultations – which have been going on since the start of the week – were inconclusive. He urged nations to embrace the “mutirão” spirit, meaning one of cooperation and constructive discussion.

Progress on other key issues – such as adaptation to the impacts of the climate emergency, the just transition for those affected by the transition to a green economic system and how to build governance capabilities in less developed nations – carried on constructively, the host reported.

The host nation's lead representative stated the technical part of the COP process was approaching the end, and the political phase – when government leaders who have the power to alter their countries’ positions arrive – was starting.