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The climate chief, Marina Silva, has urged every country to show the bravery needed to address the imperative of a worldwide transition away from fossil fuels, describing the creation of a detailed plan as an “moral” response to the global warming emergency.

The minister stressed, however, that participation in this process would be voluntary and “self-determined” for interested nations.

This issue remains one of the most debated subjects at the UN climate summit in Brazil, with countries split over if and how such a roadmap can be discussed. Hosting the event, the nation has adopted a balanced position on which items can be included on the formal schedule.

Silva expressed approval for the potential of a plan, though not explicitly pledging the country to it. The minister remarked: “When we have a situation that is quite grim, it is good that we have a map. But the guide does not compel us to travel, or to climb.”

In an interview, the minister noted: “The roadmap is an response to our scientific knowledge [of the climate crisis]. It is an ethical response.”

Scores of nations meeting in Belém for the global climate conference, which is entering its second week, are aiming to establish how a global transition of fossil fuels could be implemented. These nations aim to build on a historic agreement reached two years ago at a previous UN summit to “move away from fossil fuels.”

The commitment lacked a timetable or specifics on how it could be achieved, and although it was passed unanimously, some countries have since attempted to back away from the pledge. Attempts last year to elaborate on its practical meaning were stymied by opposition from oil-dependent nations at COP29.

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

Because of this, the host has been wary of calls by certain nations to include the transition on the schedule for the current summit. But the minister has strived behind the scenes to make sure the pledge could be discussed at the summit apart from the official program.

The minister won over Brazil’s president, and he made public reference repeatedly to the need to “move away from reliance on fossil fuels” at the global leaders' meeting that came before the conference, and at the start of the summit.

“The issue is a matter that we understand at a certain time had to be put forward, because it is the only way to address the issue from the source,” the minister said. “We recognise that it is challenging, and we cannot sell false hopes. Bringing up the topic is courageous, and I wish [to see] this courage from all, from producing nations and using countries.”

Brazil had not initiated the push for a phaseout, the minister clarified, because that had been done at COP28. Rather, it was enabling the discussions to take place in line with what some countries desired. “We understand these topics are delicate. We will provide the opportunity to talk about it,” she added.

Time is insufficient at the summit to draw up a detailed plan, a process the minister called could take a number of years because many countries confronted complicated challenges around dependence on carbon-based energy, or wanted to use the proceeds from exporting fossil fuels to fund their economic growth.

“Brazil brings up the topic, because it is simultaneously a producer and user,” the minister noted. “But Brazil is different, because it, if it chooses to, need not depend on non-renewables. We have to understand that there are certain nations that depend on fossil fuels in their economies and don’t have easy solutions, and some where oil and gas are the basis of their economic structure.

“To be just is to be just to all, but the fundamental, basic fairness 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 forum in which the work of drawing up a strategy to the transition could start.

This process would involve dialogue with all signatory countries to the UN framework convention on climate change and guidelines for how the initiative would unfold, the minister explained. “Once we have standards, a management framework can be drawn up; after we have a plan, and establish safeguards to be able to establish trust in the process, I believe that with these elements we can turn good ideas into actions that are clearer, and more concrete.”

It is uncertain that a proposal to start developing a roadmap would be accepted at the conference, although it may not need the official approval of the summit, which proceeds by consensus and can be hijacked by particular groups. Climate analysts have indicated they believe there could be backing for such a idea from about 60 nations, but there are believed to be at least forty opposed. There are 195 countries participating at the negotiations.

“Despite being the root cause of global warming, carbon-based energy are about the most divisive subject there is within the international climate talks, so to see a sizable group of countries openly supporting a route to achieving worldwide phaseout is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

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

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

Discussions continued on Saturday on several unresolved issues that have not yet been incorporated into the official agenda: trade, openness, finance and how to address the shortfall between the carbon reduction nations have planned and those required to keep to the 1.5C temperature limit.

A summit president promised a “document” that would cover these matters, after consultations – which have been underway since Monday – were unresolved. The official urged nations to embrace the “mutirão” spirit, meaning one of collaboration and constructive dialogue.

Progress on other substantive issues – including adaptation to the impacts of the climate emergency, the just transition for those impacted by the transition to a low-carbon economic system and how to build institutional capacity in less developed nations – carried on constructively, the presidency reported.

Brazil’s chief negotiator stated the detailed part of the COP process was approaching the end, and the political phase – when ministers who have the power to change their countries’ stances arrive – was beginning.