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The climate chief, Marina Silva, has urged all nations to show the courage needed to confront the necessity of a global transition away from fossil fuels, describing the development of a roadmap as an “ethical” answer to the climate crisis.

She stressed, though, that involvement in this process would be voluntary and “self-determined” for willing governments.

The topic remains one of the most contentious subjects at the UN climate summit in the host country, with nations divided over if and how such a strategy can be addressed. As the host, Brazil has adopted a balanced stance on what can be placed on the formal schedule.

The official voiced approval for the possibility of a roadmap, though not explicitly committing the country to it. The minister stated: “In times we have a situation that is very challenging, it is good that we have a map. But the guide does not compel us to proceed, or to climb.”

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

Scores of nations meeting in Belém for the UN climate summit, which is starting its second week, are seeking to determine how a global phaseout of fossil fuels could be implemented. These nations aim to advance a landmark agreement made two years ago at a previous UN summit to “move away from non-renewable energy sources.”

The pledge lacked a schedule or details on the way it could be realized, and even though it was passed unanimously, several countries have since tried to back away from the pledge. Attempts last year to expand on its real-world meaning were stymied by resistance from petrostates at COP29.

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

For these reasons, the host has been wary of calls by some nations to include the phaseout on the agenda for the current summit. But the minister has strived behind the scenes to ensure the pledge could be talked about at the conference outside the formal agenda.

She won over the nation's president, who made public reference three times to the need to “shift from reliance on fossil fuels” at the summit of world leaders that came before COP30, and at the opening of the event.

“This is a matter that we understand at a certain time had to be put forward, because it is the sole way to face the problem from the root,” the minister said. “We acknowledge that it is challenging, and we must not offer unrealistic expectations. Raising the topic is brave, and I hope [to see] this bravery from all, from producers and using countries.”

The nation had not started the push for a phaseout, the minister clarified, because that had been initiated at the earlier summit. Instead, it was enabling the talks to take place in accordance with what some countries wished. “We understand these topics are delicate. We will provide the opportunity to talk about it,” the minister added.

There is not enough time at COP30 to draw up a detailed plan, a process the minister said could take several years because numerous countries faced complicated issues around reliance on carbon-based energy, or aimed to use the proceeds from exporting fossil fuels to finance their economic growth.

“Brazil brings up the subject, because Brazil is simultaneously a producer and user,” the minister noted. “But the nation is unique, because it, if it wants to, need not depend on fossil fuels. We have to understand that there are certain nations that rely on carbon energy in their economies and don’t have easy alternatives, and some where fossil fuels are the foundation of their economic structure.

“To be just is to be just to all, but the fundamental, basic justice is to avoid being unfair to the Earth, because it is our shared home.”

If the pledge gains enough backing, COP30 could set up a platform in which the work of creating a strategy to the transition could start.

The process would involve discussions with every signatory countries to the UN climate treaty and criteria for how the initiative would proceed, Silva explained. “Once we have criteria, a governance structure can be drawn up; after we have a strategy, and create protections to be able to build trust in the process, I am confident that with these components we can transform good ideas into steps that are clearer, and more concrete.”

There is no guarantee that a proposal to start developing a roadmap would be accepted at COP30, although it does not require the formal consent of the conference, which proceeds by unanimous agreement and can be hijacked by special interests. Climate experts have indicated they believe there could be support for such a idea from about 60 nations, but there are thought to be at least 40 against. A total of 195 countries represented at the negotiations.

“Despite being the root cause of climate change, carbon-based energy are about the most divisive subject there is within the UN negotiations, so to see a sizable coalition of countries publicly supporting a route to realizing global phaseout is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

“Put simply, there’s no route to a world where temperature rise stays below 1.5C in which nations aren’t able to discuss fossil fuel phaseout.”

“We need this language for actual in this conversation. It’s quite stupid that we discuss everything but then when the main issue are the actual challenge.”

Discussions carried on on Saturday on several outstanding topics that have still not been incorporated into the official schedule: commerce, transparency, funding and how to address the shortfall between the carbon reduction countries have planned and those needed to hold to the 1.5C warming limit.

A summit president promised a “note” that would cover these issues, after discussions – which have been going on since Monday – were unresolved. He called on nations to adopt the “mutirão” spirit, referring to one of cooperation and positive discussion.

Progress on other substantive topics – such as adaptation to the impacts of the climate emergency, the just transition for those impacted by the transition to a green economic system and how to build institutional capacity in developing countries – proceeded productively, the host reported.

The host nation's chief negotiator stated the detailed phase of the summit process was approaching the end, and the political stage – when ministers who have the power to alter their countries’ positions join – was starting.