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The climate chief, the minister, has urged every country to show the courage needed to confront the necessity of a worldwide fossil fuel phaseout, describing the development of a detailed plan as an “moral” response to the climate crisis.

The minister stressed, though, that participation in this endeavor would be voluntary and “independently decided” for willing governments.

This issue stands as one of the most debated subjects at the COP30 in the host country, with countries split over if and how such a roadmap can be discussed. Hosting the event, Brazil has adopted a carefully neutral stance on which items can be included on the official agenda.

The official voiced approval for the possibility of a plan, though not explicitly committing Brazil to it. The minister stated: “In times we have a situation that is very challenging, it is helpful that we have a map. But the map does not force us to travel, or to climb.”

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

Scores of countries gathered in the host city for the UN climate summit, which is entering its second week, are seeking to determine how a worldwide phaseout of fossil fuels could be implemented. They hope to advance a historic agreement made two years ago at COP28 to “move away from non-renewable energy sources.”

That pledge lacked a timetable or details on the way it could be realized, and even though it was passed by all, several nations have later attempted to disavow the pledge. Attempts last year to elaborate on its practical implications were blocked by opposition from petrostates at another UN summit.

Consequently, there was no mention of the shift away from carbon fuels in the outcome of that conference.

Because of this, the host has been wary of calls by certain nations to include the transition on the agenda for COP30. But Silva has strived behind the scenes to make sure the topic could be talked about at the summit outside the formal program.

She won over the nation's leader, and he made mention repeatedly to the need to “shift from dependence on fossil fuels” at the global leaders' meeting that came before COP30, and at the start of the summit.

“This is something that we understand at some point had to be raised, because it is the sole way to address the issue from the source,” the minister explained. “We acknowledge that it is not easy, and we must not offer false hopes. Raising the subject is brave, and I wish [to see] this bravery from all, from producers and consumers.”

The nation had not initiated the push for a phaseout, she clarified, because that had been done at COP28. Instead, it was enabling the discussions to occur in line with what some countries desired. “We understand these subjects are delicate. We will provide the opportunity to talk about it,” the minister said.

There is not enough time at COP30 to draw up a roadmap, a process Silva called could take several years because numerous countries faced complex issues around dependence on fossil fuels, or wanted to use the proceeds from selling fossil fuels to fund their economic growth.

“Brazil raises the topic, because Brazil is simultaneously a producing nation and user,” the minister noted. “But the nation is different, because it, if it wants to, need not rely on non-renewables. We have to understand that there are certain nations that rely on carbon energy in their economic systems and don’t have simple alternatives, and some where oil and gas are the basis of their economic structure.

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

If the pledge receives sufficient support, COP30 could establish a forum in which the process of drawing up a strategy to the phaseout could start.

The process would involve discussions with all participating countries to the UN framework convention on climate change and criteria for how the process would proceed, Silva explained. “Once we have standards, a governance structure can be drawn up; after we have a plan, and create safeguards to be able to establish trust in the process, I am confident that with these components we can transform positive concepts into actions that are more defined, and more concrete.”

There is no guarantee that a suggestion to start developing a plan would be accepted at COP30, even if it does not require the formal consent of the conference, which operates by unanimous agreement 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 opposed. There are 195 nations participating at the talks.

“In spite of being the root cause of climate change, carbon-based energy are about the most divisive topic there is within the UN negotiations, so to see a sizable group of countries publicly backing a path to realizing worldwide phaseout is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

“In simple terms, there’s no route to a planet where temperature rise stays below 1.5 degrees in which countries cannot to talk about fossil fuel phaseout.”

“We need this wording for real in this conversation. It’s highly illogical that we talk about all topics but then when the main issue are the real problem.”

Negotiations carried on on the weekend on four outstanding issues that have not yet been included into the formal agenda: commerce, transparency, funding and how to tackle the shortfall between the carbon reduction nations have proposed and those required to hold to the 1.5C temperature limit.

A summit chair promised a “document” that would address these issues, after discussions – which have been going on since the start of the week – were unresolved. He urged nations to embrace the “mutirão” attitude, meaning one of cooperation and positive dialogue.

Progress on other key issues – including adaptation to the effects of the climate crisis, the just transition for those impacted by the move to a low-carbon economy and how to strengthen governance capabilities in developing countries – carried on productively, the host said.

Brazil’s chief negotiator stated the detailed part of the COP process was nearing completion, and the political stage – when government leaders who have the power to change their countries’ positions arrive – was starting.