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The climate chief, Marina Silva, has urged all nations to demonstrate the bravery needed to address the necessity of a worldwide transition away from fossil fuels, labeling the creation of a detailed plan as an “moral” answer to the climate crisis.

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

This issue stands as one of the most debated matters at the UN climate summit in the host country, with nations divided over if and in what way such a roadmap can be discussed. As the host, Brazil has maintained a carefully neutral position on what can be placed on the formal schedule.

The official voiced support for the possibility of a roadmap, though not explicitly committing the country to it. She remarked: “In times we have a terrain that is very challenging, it is good that we have a guide. But the map does not force us to travel, or to climb.”

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

Scores of countries meeting in Belém for the global climate conference, which is starting its second week, are aiming to establish how a worldwide transition of oil, gas, and coal could be implemented. These nations hope to advance a landmark agreement made two years ago at a previous UN summit to “transition away from fossil fuels.”

The commitment lacked a timetable or details on the way it could be achieved, and even though it was passed unanimously, some countries have since tried to back away from the pledge. Efforts last year to expand on its practical implications were stymied by opposition from oil-dependent nations at COP29.

As a result, there was no reference of the transition away from fossil fuels in the outcome of that conference.

For these reasons, Brazil has been cautious of calls by some countries to include the phaseout on the agenda for the current summit. But the minister has worked hard in private to ensure the pledge could be talked about at the summit outside the formal agenda.

She convinced the nation's leader, who gave 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 opening of the summit.

“This is a matter that we understand at some point had to be raised, because it is the sole way to face the issue from the source,” the minister explained. “We acknowledge that it is not easy, and we must not offer unrealistic expectations. Bringing up the topic is courageous, and I wish [to see] this courage from all, from producing nations and consumers.”

The nation had not initiated the push for a transition, the minister said, because that had been initiated at COP28. Rather, it was allowing the talks to occur in accordance with what some nations desired. “We know these subjects are sensitive. We will provide the opportunity to talk about it,” she said.

Time is insufficient at the summit to create a detailed plan, a process the minister said could take several years because numerous nations faced complicated issues around reliance on fossil fuels, or aimed to use the revenue from exporting oil and gas to fund their economic growth.

“The country brings up the subject, because Brazil is both a producing nation and consumer,” the minister said. “But the nation is different, because it, if it chooses to, does not have to rely on non-renewables. We have to recognise that there are some that rely on carbon energy in their economies and lack simple alternatives, and some where oil and gas are the foundation of their economic structure.

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

Should the pledge receives sufficient support, the summit could set up a platform in which the work of drawing up a roadmap to the transition could begin.

This process would involve discussions with all signatory nations to the UN climate treaty and guidelines for how the initiative would proceed, the minister said. “After we have standards, a governance structure can be developed; once we have a plan, and establish protections to be able to establish trust in the process, I am confident that with these elements we can turn good ideas into steps that are more defined, and more tangible.”

There is no guarantee that a suggestion to start developing a roadmap would win approval at COP30, even if it may not need the official consent of the summit, which operates by consensus and can be disrupted by special interests. Climate experts have suggested they think there could be backing for such a idea from about 60 countries, but there are thought to be at least 40 against. There are 195 countries participating at the talks.

“Despite being the primary source of global warming, carbon-based energy are about the most divisive subject there is within the international climate talks, so to see a sizable group of nations publicly supporting a route to realizing worldwide transition is in itself highly significant.”

“Put simply, there’s no route to a world where temperature rise stays below 1.5C in which nations cannot to talk about ending fossil fuel use.”

“We require this language for real in this discussion. It’s quite stupid that we talk about all topics but then when the main issue are the actual challenge.”

Discussions continued on Saturday on four outstanding issues that have still not been incorporated into the formal schedule: trade, transparency, finance and how to tackle the shortfall between the carbon reduction countries have proposed and those required to keep to the 1.5-degree temperature target.

The COP30 president pledged a “note” that would cover these issues, after consultations – which have been underway since Monday – were unresolved. The official urged countries to embrace the “mutirão” attitude, meaning one of collaboration and constructive discussion.

Progress on additional key issues – such as adjustment to the effects of the climate crisis, the fair shift for those impacted by the move to a green economy and how to build institutional capacity in less developed nations – carried on productively, the host said.

The host nation's chief negotiator stated the detailed part of the summit process was approaching completion, and the high-level stage – when ministers who have the power to change their nations' positions arrive – was starting.