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Brazil’s environment minister, the minister, has urged every country to show the courage needed to confront the necessity of a worldwide fossil fuel phaseout, labeling the creation of a detailed plan as an “ethical” answer to the global warming emergency.

The minister emphasized, though, that involvement in this endeavor would be voluntary and “self-determined” for interested governments.

This issue stands as one of the most debated subjects at the UN climate summit in Brazil, with countries divided over whether and in what way such a strategy can be discussed. As the host, Brazil has adopted a carefully neutral stance on what can be placed on the formal agenda.

The official voiced approval for the potential of a plan, though not explicitly pledging Brazil to it. The minister remarked: “In times we have a terrain that is very challenging, it is good that we have a guide. But the guide does not force us to travel, or to advance.”

In an interview, she noted: “The map is an answer to our scientific knowledge [of the climate emergency]. It is an moral answer.”

Scores of countries gathered in the host city for the UN climate summit, which is starting its second week, are aiming to establish how a worldwide transition of oil, gas, and coal could work. These nations aim to build on a historic resolution 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 although it was passed by all, some countries have since attempted to disavow the pledge. Efforts last year to expand on its real-world meaning were stymied by opposition from petrostates at another UN summit.

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

Because of this, Brazil has been wary of demands by certain countries to place the transition on the schedule for COP30. But Silva has worked hard behind the scenes to ensure the pledge could be discussed at the conference outside the official agenda.

The minister won over Brazil’s president, who made public reference three times to the need to “shift from reliance on fossil fuels” at the global leaders' meeting that came before the conference, and at the opening of the event.

“This is something that we understand at some point had to be put forward, 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 unrealistic expectations. Raising the subject is courageous, and I hope [to see] this bravery from all, from producing nations and consumers.”

Brazil had not initiated the push for a transition, the minister clarified, because that had been done at the earlier summit. Rather, it was allowing the talks to occur in line with what some nations desired. “We know these topics are sensitive. We will give the chance to talk about it,” she said.

Time is insufficient at COP30 to create a detailed plan, a task the minister said could take several years because many countries faced complicated issues around dependence on fossil fuels, or aimed to use the proceeds from exporting fossil fuels to fund their economic growth.

“The country raises the topic, because Brazil is both a producer and user,” she noted. “But Brazil is different, because it, if it wants to, need not depend on fossil fuels. We have to understand that there are some that rely on carbon energy in their economic systems and don’t have simple alternatives, and others where oil and gas are the foundation of their economy.

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

Should the pledge receives enough backing, COP30 could set up a forum in which the process of creating a strategy to the phaseout could start.

The endeavor would involve discussions with every participating countries to the UN framework convention on climate change and criteria for how the initiative would proceed, Silva said. “Once we have standards, a management framework can be drawn up; 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 turn good ideas into steps that are clearer, and more tangible.”

There is no guarantee that a suggestion to begin drawing up a roadmap would be accepted at COP30, although it does not require the formal approval of the summit, which operates by consensus and can be hijacked by special interests. Climate analysts have suggested they believe there could be backing for such a proposal from about sixty countries, but there are thought to be at least 40 opposed. A total of one hundred ninety-five nations represented at the negotiations.

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

“Put simply, there’s no path to a world where temperature rise remains below 1.5C in which nations cannot to discuss ending fossil fuel use.”

“We need this language for real in this conversation. It’s quite stupid that we talk about everything but that when fossil fuels are the real challenge.”

Discussions carried on on the weekend on several outstanding issues that have still not been incorporated into the formal agenda: trade, transparency, finance and how to address the gap between the emissions cuts nations have proposed and those needed to hold to the 1.5C temperature target.

The summit president promised a “document” that would cover these matters, after consultations – which have been underway since Monday – were inconclusive. He called on countries to adopt the “mutirão” attitude, referring to one of collaboration and positive dialogue.

Work on other substantive issues – including adaptation to the effects of the climate crisis, the just transition for those affected by the move to a low-carbon economic system and how to build institutional capacity in less developed nations – proceeded productively, the host said.

The host nation's chief negotiator stated the technical phase of the summit proceedings was nearing completion, and the political phase – when government leaders who have the authority to change their countries’ positions arrive – was beginning.