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Brazil’s environment minister, the minister, has called on all nations to demonstrate the bravery needed to confront the imperative of a worldwide transition away from fossil fuels, describing the creation of a detailed plan as an “moral” answer to the climate crisis.

The minister emphasized, however, that participation in this endeavor would be optional and “self-determined” for interested governments.

The topic remains one of the most contentious matters at the UN climate summit in Brazil, with countries divided over whether and how such a roadmap can be addressed. As the host, Brazil has maintained a carefully neutral stance on which items can be placed on the official agenda.

The official voiced support for the possibility of a plan, though not directly committing the country to it. She remarked: “In times we have a situation that is very challenging, it is good that we have a map. But the guide does not force us to proceed, or to advance.”

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

Scores of nations meeting in Belém for the UN climate summit, which is starting its second week, are seeking to establish how a global transition of oil, gas, and coal could be implemented. They aim to advance a historic resolution reached two years ago at a previous UN summit to “transition away from fossil fuels.”

That commitment lacked a timetable or specifics on how it could be realized, and although it was adopted by all, some countries have since attempted to disavow the pledge. Attempts last year to expand on its practical meaning were stymied by opposition from oil-dependent nations at another UN summit.

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

For these reasons, Brazil has been wary of calls by some nations to include the phaseout on the schedule for the current summit. But the minister has strived in private to make sure the pledge could be talked about at the summit apart from the official program.

She won over the nation's leader, who gave mention repeatedly to the need to “move away from reliance on fossil fuels” at the global leaders' meeting that preceded the conference, and at the start of the event.

“The issue is a matter that we know at some point had to be raised, because it is the sole way to face the problem from the root,” Marina Silva explained. “We acknowledge that it is challenging, and we must not sell unrealistic expectations. Raising the subject is brave, and I wish [to see] this bravery from all, from producing nations and consumers.”

Brazil had not initiated the push for a phaseout, she clarified, because that had been done at the earlier summit. Instead, it was enabling the discussions to take place in accordance with what certain nations desired. “We know these subjects are sensitive. We will provide the opportunity to discuss it,” the minister added.

Time is insufficient at COP30 to create a detailed plan, a process the minister said could take a number of years because numerous countries faced complicated challenges around dependence on carbon-based energy, or wanted to use the proceeds from exporting fossil fuels to finance their development.

“The country raises the topic, because it is both a producer and consumer,” the minister noted. “But the nation is different, because it, if it wants to, does not have to rely on fossil fuels. We have to understand that there are some that rely on fossil fuels in their economic systems and don’t have easy solutions, and some where oil and gas are the basis of their economic structure.

“To be just is to be fair to everyone, but the fundamental, basic justice is not being unjust to the planet, because it is our shared home.”

Should the pledge receives sufficient backing, the summit could set up a platform in which the process of drawing up a strategy to the phaseout could begin.

The endeavor would require discussions with every participating countries to the UN climate treaty and criteria for how the process would proceed, the minister said. “After we have standards, a governance structure can be drawn up; after we have a plan, and establish safeguards to be able to build trust in the process, I am confident that with these elements we can turn good ideas into actions that are more defined, and more tangible.”

It is uncertain that a proposal to start developing a plan would win approval at COP30, although it may not need the formal approval of the summit, which proceeds by consensus and can be disrupted by particular groups. Climate analysts have suggested they believe there could be support for such a idea from about 60 nations, but there are thought to be at least 40 against. There are 195 countries participating at the negotiations.

“In spite of being the root cause of global warming, carbon-based energy are about the most contentious topic there is within the UN negotiations, so to see a chunky coalition of nations openly backing a path to realizing global transition is in itself highly significant.”

“Put simply, there’s no path to a planet where warming remains below 1.5 degrees in which nations cannot to talk about fossil fuel phaseout.”

“We require this wording for actual in this conversation. It’s highly illogical that we discuss everything but that when fossil fuels are the actual challenge.”

Negotiations carried on on Saturday on several outstanding issues that have still not been included into the formal agenda: trade, transparency, funding and how to address the gap between the carbon reduction nations have planned and those required to keep to the 1.5-degree temperature limit.

A summit chair pledged a “note” that would address these issues, after consultations – which have been going on since the start of the week – were inconclusive. The official called on nations to embrace the “mutirão” spirit, meaning one of collaboration and positive dialogue.

Progress on additional key topics – including adjustment to the impacts of the climate emergency, the just transition for those impacted by the transition to a low-carbon economy and how to strengthen governance capabilities in developing countries – proceeded constructively, the host said.

The host nation's lead representative stated the detailed phase of the COP proceedings was nearing the end, and the political stage – when government leaders who have the authority to alter their countries’ positions join – was beginning.