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The environment minister, Marina Silva, has urged every country to show the bravery needed to address the imperative of a global fossil fuel phaseout, describing the creation of a roadmap as an “moral” answer to the global warming emergency.

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

The topic stands as one of the most debated subjects at the UN climate summit in the host country, with countries divided over if and how such a strategy can be discussed. As the host, Brazil has adopted a balanced position on what can be included on the formal schedule.

The official voiced approval for the possibility of a roadmap, without explicitly pledging the country to it. She stated: “When we have a situation that is very challenging, it is helpful that we have a map. But the map does not force us to proceed, or to advance.”

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

Dozens of countries meeting in Belém for the UN climate summit, which is starting its next phase, are seeking to establish how a global transition of oil, gas, and coal could be implemented. These nations hope to advance a historic agreement reached two years ago at COP28 to “transition away from fossil fuels.”

The pledge had no a schedule or details on how it could be realized, and although it was passed unanimously, some nations have later attempted to disavow the pledge. Attempts last year to expand on its practical implications were blocked by resistance from oil-dependent nations at another UN summit.

Consequently, there was no reference of the shift away from fossil fuels in the final agreement of COP29.

For these reasons, Brazil has been cautious of demands by certain nations to place the phaseout on the schedule for the current summit. But Silva has worked hard behind the scenes to ensure the pledge could be talked about at the conference apart from the formal agenda.

The minister convinced Brazil’s leader, who made public reference repeatedly to the need to “shift from dependence on fossil fuels” at the summit of world leaders that came before COP30, and at the opening of the summit.

“This is a matter that we understand at some point had to be put forward, because it is the sole way to face the issue from the root,” the minister explained. “We acknowledge that it is challenging, and we cannot sell false hopes. Raising the topic is courageous, and I wish [to see] this courage from all, from producing nations and using countries.”

Brazil had not started the call for a transition, she said, because that had been done at COP28. Instead, it was allowing the talks to take place in line with what certain countries wished. “We know these topics are sensitive. We will provide the chance to discuss it,” the minister added.

There is not enough time at the summit to create a detailed plan, a task Silva called could take a number of years because many countries faced complicated challenges around dependence on fossil fuels, or aimed to use the proceeds from exporting oil and gas to fund their economic growth.

“The country brings up the topic, because it is both a producer and consumer,” the minister said. “But Brazil is different, because it, if it wants to, need not rely on non-renewables. We have to recognise that there are some that depend on carbon energy in their economic systems and lack easy solutions, and some where oil and gas are the basis of their economy.

“To be fair is to be fair to all, but the fundamental, primordial justice is to avoid being unjust to the planet, because it is our shared home.”

If the pledge gains sufficient support, the summit could set up a platform in which the work of creating a strategy to the transition could start.

This endeavor would involve dialogue with every participating countries to the UN framework convention on climate change and guidelines for how the initiative would unfold, the minister 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 trust in the process, I believe that with these elements we can transform good ideas into steps that are more defined, and more concrete.”

It is uncertain that a proposal to start developing a plan would win approval at the conference, although it may not need the formal approval of the conference, which operates by unanimous agreement and can be disrupted by particular groups. COP analysts have indicated they think there could be backing for such a proposal from about sixty countries, but there are thought to be at least forty opposed. A total of 195 nations represented at the negotiations.

“Despite being the primary source of climate change, carbon-based energy are about the most divisive subject there is within the international climate talks, so to see a sizable coalition of nations publicly backing a route to achieving global transition is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

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

“We require this wording for actual in this discussion. It’s quite stupid that we talk about everything but then when the main issue are the real problem.”

Negotiations carried on on Saturday on four unresolved topics that have still not been included into the formal schedule: commerce, transparency, finance and how to tackle the gap between the emissions cuts nations have planned and those required to keep to the 1.5-degree warming limit.

A summit president pledged a “document” that would cover these matters, after discussions – which have been underway since the start of the week – were unresolved. The official urged countries to embrace the “mutirão” spirit, referring to one of cooperation and constructive dialogue.

Work on additional substantive topics – including adaptation to the impacts of the climate crisis, the just transition for those impacted by the move to a green economy and how to build institutional capacity in developing countries – carried on productively, the presidency reported.

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