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The environment minister, Marina Silva, has called on every country to show the bravery needed to address the imperative of a global transition away from fossil fuels, describing the creation of a roadmap as an “ethical” response to the global warming emergency.

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

The topic stands as one of the most contentious 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, the nation has adopted a balanced stance on what can be included on the official schedule.

The official voiced support for the potential of a plan, though not explicitly pledging Brazil to it. She remarked: “In times we have a terrain that is quite grim, it is helpful that we have a guide. But the map does not force us to travel, or to climb.”

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

Scores of countries gathered in the host city for the UN climate summit, which is entering its second week, are aiming to determine how a global transition of oil, gas, and coal could be implemented. These nations aim to advance a landmark resolution reached two years ago at COP28 to “move away from fossil fuels.”

The commitment had no a timetable or details on how it could be achieved, and although it was passed by all, several countries have since attempted to disavow the promise. Efforts last year to elaborate on its practical meaning were stymied by opposition from oil-dependent nations at COP29.

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

Because of this, the host has been wary of calls by some nations to include the transition on the schedule for COP30. But the minister has strived in private to make sure the pledge could be discussed at the conference apart from the official agenda.

The minister convinced the nation's leader, who made public reference repeatedly to the need to “shift from dependence on fossil fuels” at the global leaders' meeting that preceded COP30, and at the start of the summit.

“The issue is a matter that we understand at some point had to be put forward, because it is the only way to address the issue from the source,” the minister explained. “We acknowledge that it is challenging, and we cannot offer false hopes. Bringing up the topic is brave, and I hope [to see] this courage from everyone, from producing nations and using countries.”

Brazil had not initiated the call for a transition, she said, because that had been initiated at COP28. Rather, it was allowing the discussions to take place in accordance with what some countries wished. “We know these subjects are delicate. We will provide the opportunity to discuss it,” the minister said.

Time is insufficient at the summit to draw up a detailed plan, a process Silva said could take several years because many nations faced complicated issues around dependence on fossil fuels, or wanted to use the revenue from exporting oil and gas to fund their development.

“The country brings up the topic, because it is both a producer and user,” she noted. “But the nation is different, because Brazil, if it wants to, does not have to rely on non-renewables. We have to understand that there are certain nations that depend on fossil fuels in their economies and don’t have simple solutions, and others where oil and gas are the basis of their economic structure.

“To be just is to be just to everyone, but the essential, basic fairness is not being unfair to the Earth, because it is our shared home.”

Should the pledge receives enough support, the summit could establish a forum in which the process of drawing up a roadmap to the transition could begin.

The process would involve discussions with every signatory nations to the UN framework convention on climate change and guidelines for how the initiative would proceed, Silva explained. “Once we have criteria, a governance structure can be developed; after we have a plan, and create protections to be able to build confidence in the system, I am confident that with these components we can turn good ideas into steps that are more defined, and more tangible.”

It is uncertain that a suggestion to start developing a plan would win approval at COP30, although it may not need the formal approval of the summit, which operates by consensus and can be disrupted by particular groups. Climate experts have suggested they believe there could be backing for such a proposal from about sixty countries, but there are believed to be at least forty against. A total of one hundred ninety-five nations participating at the talks.

“In spite of being the primary source of climate change, fossil fuels are about the most divisive subject there is within the UN negotiations, so to see a sizable group of nations openly supporting a path to achieving worldwide transition is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

“In simple terms, there’s no path to a world where warming stays below 1.5 degrees in which nations aren’t able to talk about fossil fuel phaseout.”

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

Negotiations continued on Saturday on several outstanding topics that have still not been included into the formal agenda: trade, transparency, funding and how to tackle the shortfall between the carbon reduction countries have planned and those required to keep to the 1.5-degree temperature target.

The summit chair pledged a “document” that would cover these issues, after discussions – which have been going on since Monday – were inconclusive. The official called on countries to embrace the “mutirão” attitude, referring to one of collaboration and constructive discussion.

Progress on other substantive issues – such as adaptation to the impacts of the climate emergency, the fair shift for those affected by the move to a green economic system and how to build institutional capacity in developing countries – carried on productively, the host reported.

The host nation's chief negotiator said the detailed part of the summit process was approaching completion, and the political phase – when government leaders who have the power to alter their nations' positions arrive – was beginning.