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The climate chief, the minister, has urged all nations to demonstrate the courage needed to address the necessity of a global fossil fuel phaseout, labeling the development of a roadmap as an “ethical” answer to the global warming emergency.

She stressed, however, that participation in this endeavor would be optional and “self-determined” for willing governments.

This issue stands as one of the most debated matters at the UN climate summit in the host country, with countries divided over whether and how such a strategy can be discussed. As the host, Brazil has maintained a carefully neutral stance on which items can be included on the formal schedule.

The official expressed support for the possibility of a plan, though not directly committing the country to it. She stated: “In times we have a terrain that is quite grim, it is helpful that we have a map. But the guide does not compel us to proceed, or to climb.”

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

Dozens of nations gathered in the host city for the global climate conference, which is starting its next phase, are aiming to establish how a worldwide transition of oil, gas, and coal could be implemented. They aim to build on a historic agreement reached two years ago at a previous UN summit to “transition away from non-renewable energy sources.”

The commitment lacked a timetable or specifics on the way it could be realized, and even though it was passed by all, some nations have later tried to back away from the promise. Attempts last year to expand on its real-world implications were stymied by resistance from petrostates at another UN summit.

As a result, there was no mention of the transition away from carbon fuels in the outcome of COP29.

Because of this, Brazil has been cautious of calls by certain countries to include the transition on the agenda for COP30. But the minister has strived in private to make sure the pledge could be discussed at the summit apart from the official program.

The minister convinced Brazil’s leader, who gave public reference repeatedly to the need to “shift from dependence on traditional energy” at the global leaders' meeting that preceded the conference, and at the start of the event.

“The issue is a matter that we understand at a certain time had to be raised, because it is the sole way to address the issue from the root,” Marina Silva said. “We acknowledge that it is challenging, and we cannot sell false hopes. Raising the subject is courageous, and I hope [to see] this bravery from all, from producers and consumers.”

The nation had not initiated the call for a phaseout, the minister said, because that had been initiated at COP28. Rather, it was allowing the discussions to take place in line with what certain nations desired. “We know these topics are delicate. We will give the chance to discuss it,” she said.

There is not enough time at COP30 to draw up a detailed plan, 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 proceeds from selling oil and gas to finance their economic growth.

“The country raises the subject, because Brazil is simultaneously a producing nation and user,” she said. “But Brazil is different, because it, 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 don’t have simple solutions, and others where oil and gas are the foundation of their economy.

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

Should the pledge receives sufficient support, COP30 could set up a platform in which the work of drawing up a strategy to the phaseout could begin.

The process would involve discussions with all participating countries to the UN framework convention on climate change and criteria for how the process would unfold, Silva explained. “Once we have standards, a management framework can be developed; after we have a plan, and create safeguards to be able to establish confidence in the system, I believe that with these elements we can transform positive concepts into actions that are more defined, and more concrete.”

There is no guarantee that a proposal to start drawing up a roadmap would win approval at the conference, even if it may not need the formal consent of the summit, which operates by consensus and can be disrupted by particular groups. COP experts have suggested they think there could be backing for such a proposal from about sixty countries, but there are believed to be at least forty opposed. There are 195 nations participating at the negotiations.

“Despite being the primary source of global warming, fossil fuels are about the most divisive topic there is within the international climate talks, so to see a sizable group of nations publicly backing a route to realizing worldwide phaseout is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

“In simple terms, there’s no route to a world where temperature rise remains below 1.5C in which countries cannot to talk about fossil fuel phaseout.”

“We need this wording for actual in this conversation. It’s quite stupid that we talk about everything but then when the main issue are the actual problem.”

Discussions carried on on Saturday on several unresolved issues that have not yet been included into the official schedule: commerce, transparency, finance and how to address the shortfall between the emissions cuts countries have proposed and those needed to keep to the 1.5C warming limit.

The COP30 chair promised a “note” that would cover these issues, after consultations – which have been underway since the start of the week – were unresolved. He urged countries to adopt the “mutirão” attitude, meaning one of collaboration and constructive dialogue.

Work on other key issues – such as adaptation to the impacts of the climate emergency, the just transition for those impacted by the move to a green economy and how to build governance capabilities in less developed nations – carried on constructively, the host said.

The host nation's lead representative said the technical part of the COP process was nearing completion, and the political phase – when government leaders who have the power to alter their nations' positions join – was beginning.