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The environment minister, the minister, has called on every country to demonstrate the courage needed to confront the necessity of a worldwide transition away from fossil fuels, labeling the development of a detailed plan as an “moral” answer to the climate crisis.

She emphasized, however, that participation in this endeavor would be voluntary and “self-determined” for willing nations.

This issue stands as one of the most debated matters at the UN climate summit in the host country, with nations divided over whether and how such a strategy can be discussed. Hosting the event, Brazil has adopted a balanced stance on what can be placed on the formal agenda.

Silva expressed approval for the possibility of a plan, though not explicitly pledging Brazil to it. The minister stated: “When we have a situation that is very challenging, it is good that we have a map. But the guide does not force us to travel, or to climb.”

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

Scores of countries gathered in Belém for the global climate conference, which is starting its second week, are seeking to determine how a worldwide transition of oil, gas, and coal could be implemented. These nations hope to advance a landmark agreement reached two years ago at COP28 to “transition away from fossil fuels.”

The commitment lacked a schedule or details on the way it could be achieved, and even though it was passed by all, several nations have since attempted to disavow the pledge. Efforts last year to expand on its practical meaning were blocked by resistance from petrostates at another UN summit.

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

For these reasons, the host has been cautious of calls by certain countries to place the transition on the agenda for the current summit. But Silva has strived in private to make sure the topic could be talked about at the summit apart from the formal agenda.

She convinced Brazil’s leader, who gave mention repeatedly to the need to “move away from dependence on fossil fuels” at the global leaders' meeting that came before COP30, and at the start of the event.

“This is a matter that we know at some point had to be put forward, because it is the sole way to address the problem from the source,” Marina Silva explained. “We recognise that it is not easy, and we must not sell false hopes. Raising the topic is courageous, and I hope [to see] this courage from everyone, from producers and using countries.”

The nation had not started the push for a transition, she said, because that had been done at the earlier summit. Rather, it was allowing the discussions to take place in line with what certain nations desired. “We know these topics are sensitive. We will provide the chance to talk about it,” she said.

There is not enough time at COP30 to draw up a detailed plan, a task the minister called could take several years because many countries confronted complex issues around dependence on fossil fuels, or aimed to use the proceeds from exporting fossil fuels to fund their economic growth.

“The country brings up the subject, because it is simultaneously a producing nation and user,” she said. “But the nation is different, because it, if it wants to, does not have to depend on fossil fuels. We have to understand that there are some that rely on carbon energy in their economies and don’t have simple alternatives, and others where fossil fuels are the basis of their economy.

“To be just is to be fair to everyone, but the fundamental, primordial justice is not being unjust to the Earth, because it is our home.”

If the pledge receives enough backing, the summit could establish a platform in which the process of creating a strategy to the transition could begin.

The endeavor would involve discussions with all signatory countries to the UN framework convention on climate change and criteria for how the initiative would unfold, Silva explained. “After we have standards, a management framework can be drawn up; after we have a strategy, and create protections to be able to build trust in the system, I believe that with these components we can transform positive concepts into actions that are clearer, and more concrete.”

It is uncertain that a suggestion to start drawing up a roadmap would win approval at the conference, even if it does not require the official consent of the summit, which operates by consensus and can be hijacked by special interests. COP analysts have suggested they believe there could be support for such a proposal from about sixty nations, but there are thought to be at least forty against. A total of one hundred ninety-five countries participating at the talks.

“Despite being the root cause of climate change, fossil fuels are about the most divisive topic there is within the international climate talks, so to see a chunky group of countries openly backing a path to realizing global phaseout is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

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

“We need this wording for real in this discussion. It’s highly illogical that we discuss all topics but then when fossil fuels are the real problem.”

Discussions continued on Saturday on several outstanding topics that have not yet been incorporated into the official schedule: commerce, transparency, finance and how to tackle the shortfall between the carbon reduction nations have planned and those needed to hold to the 1.5-degree temperature limit.

The summit president pledged a “note” that would address these issues, after discussions – which have been underway since Monday – were inconclusive. The official urged countries to embrace the “mutirão” attitude, referring to one of collaboration and constructive dialogue.

Work on additional substantive issues – including adjustment to the effects of the climate crisis, the fair shift for those impacted by the transition to a green economic system and how to strengthen institutional capacity in less developed nations – proceeded productively, the presidency reported.

The host nation's lead representative said the technical phase of the summit process was approaching completion, and the high-level stage – when ministers who have the power to alter their countries’ stances join – was starting.