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The environment minister, Marina Silva, has urged all nations to demonstrate the courage needed to address the imperative of a worldwide fossil fuel phaseout, labeling the development of a detailed plan as an “moral” answer to the global warming emergency.

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

This issue remains one of the most contentious matters at the UN climate summit in the host country, with countries split over whether and in what way such a roadmap can be addressed. As the host, Brazil has maintained a balanced stance on what can be placed on the official schedule.

Silva voiced support for the possibility of a roadmap, without explicitly committing the country to it. She remarked: “In times we have a situation that is quite grim, it is good that we have a guide. But the guide does not force us to proceed, or to advance.”

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

Dozens of countries meeting in the host city for the UN climate summit, which is entering its next phase, are aiming to establish how a global transition of oil, gas, and coal could work. These nations hope to advance a historic resolution reached two years ago at COP28 to “transition away from fossil fuels.”

That pledge had no a schedule or details on how it could be realized, and even though it was passed by all, several nations have since tried to back away from the promise. Efforts last year to elaborate on its real-world meaning were stymied by opposition from oil-dependent nations at COP29.

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

Because of this, the host has been cautious of demands by some countries to place the transition on the schedule for the current summit. But Silva has strived in private to make sure the topic could be talked about at the conference apart from the formal program.

The minister convinced Brazil’s leader, who made public reference repeatedly to the need to “shift from reliance on fossil fuels” at the summit of world leaders that came before the conference, and at the start of the summit.

“This is something that we know at some point had to be put forward, because it is the only way to address the issue from the root,” the minister explained. “We recognise that it is challenging, and we must not offer unrealistic expectations. Raising the subject is brave, and I hope [to see] this courage from all, from producers and using countries.”

The nation had not started the push for a transition, the minister clarified, because that had been initiated at COP28. Rather, it was enabling the talks to take place in line with what some countries wished. “We know these subjects are delicate. We will give the chance to discuss it,” the minister said.

There is not enough time at the summit to draw up a detailed plan, a process Silva said could take several years because many countries faced complex challenges around dependence on fossil fuels, or wanted to use the revenue from exporting fossil fuels to fund their economic growth.

“Brazil raises the subject, because Brazil is both a producer and user,” the minister noted. “But the nation is unique, because Brazil, if it wants to, need not rely on non-renewables. We have to recognise that there are some that depend on fossil fuels in their economies and lack simple solutions, and others where fossil fuels are the basis of their economy.

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

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

This endeavor would require dialogue with all participating countries to the UN climate treaty and guidelines for how the initiative would proceed, Silva said. “Once we have criteria, a governance structure can be drawn up; once we have a strategy, and create safeguards to be able to build confidence in the process, I believe that with these elements we can transform positive concepts into actions that are clearer, and more concrete.”

There is no guarantee that a suggestion to begin drawing up a roadmap would be accepted at COP30, even if it does not require the official approval of the conference, which operates by unanimous agreement and can be hijacked by particular groups. Climate analysts have suggested they believe there could be support for such a proposal from about 60 countries, but there are believed to be at least forty against. A total of 195 countries participating at the negotiations.

“Despite being the primary source of global warming, carbon-based energy are about the most contentious subject there is within the UN negotiations, so to see a sizable group of nations openly backing a route to realizing global phaseout is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

“In simple terms, there’s no path to a world where warming stays below 1.5 degrees in which countries aren’t able to discuss ending fossil fuel use.”

“We require this language for actual in this conversation. It’s quite stupid that we discuss all topics but then when fossil fuels are the real problem.”

Negotiations continued on Saturday on four unresolved topics that have not yet been incorporated into the formal schedule: trade, openness, finance and how to tackle the shortfall between the carbon reduction nations have planned and those needed to keep to the 1.5C temperature target.

A summit president pledged a “note” that would address these issues, after discussions – which have been underway since the start of the week – were unresolved. The official called on nations to adopt the “mutirão” spirit, referring to one of cooperation and positive discussion.

Work on additional substantive issues – including adaptation to the impacts of the climate emergency, the just transition for those affected by the move to a low-carbon economy and how to build institutional capacity in developing countries – carried on constructively, the presidency reported.

Brazil’s lead representative stated the detailed phase of the summit process was nearing the end, and the political phase – when government leaders who have the power to alter their countries’ positions join – was starting.