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Brazil’s environment minister, Marina Silva, has called on every country to show the courage needed to address the imperative of a global transition away from fossil fuels, labeling the creation of a detailed plan as an “moral” response to the global warming emergency.

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

The topic remains one of the most contentious matters at the COP30 in Brazil, with nations split over if and in what way such a strategy can be addressed. As the host, the nation has maintained a balanced stance on what can be placed on the formal schedule.

Silva expressed support for the potential of a plan, though not directly committing the country to it. She stated: “When we have a situation that is quite grim, it is helpful that we have a guide. But the guide does not force us to travel, or to climb.”

Speaking further, the minister noted: “The roadmap is an answer to our scientific knowledge [of the climate emergency]. It is an moral answer.”

Dozens of countries gathered in the host city for the UN climate summit, which is entering its second week, are seeking to establish how a worldwide transition of fossil fuels could work. These nations aim to advance a landmark resolution made two years ago at a previous UN summit to “move away from non-renewable energy sources.”

The commitment had no a schedule or specifics on the way it could be achieved, and even though it was passed by all, some countries have since attempted to disavow the promise. Attempts last year to elaborate on its practical meaning were blocked by resistance from oil-dependent nations at another UN summit.

As a result, there was no reference of the transition away from carbon fuels in the final agreement of that conference.

Because of this, the host has been wary of demands by some countries to include the transition on the schedule for COP30. But Silva has strived in private to ensure the topic could be talked about at the summit outside the official program.

The minister convinced Brazil’s leader, and he made mention three times to the need to “move away from dependence on traditional energy” at the summit of world leaders that preceded the conference, and at the start of the event.

“The issue is a matter that we know at some point had to be put forward, because it is the only way to face the issue from the source,” the minister said. “We recognise that it is challenging, and we cannot offer false hopes. Raising the subject is courageous, and I hope [to see] this courage from all, from producers and consumers.”

The nation had not initiated the call for a transition, the minister said, because that had been done at the earlier summit. Rather, it was enabling the talks to take place in accordance with what some countries desired. “We know these subjects are delicate. We will give the chance to discuss it,” she added.

Time is insufficient at the summit to draw up a detailed plan, a process Silva said could take several years because many nations faced complex challenges around reliance on fossil fuels, or aimed to use the proceeds from exporting oil and gas to fund their development.

“The country raises the subject, because it is both a producing nation and user,” the minister noted. “But Brazil is different, because Brazil, if it chooses to, does not have to depend on fossil fuels. We have to understand that there are certain nations that rely on carbon energy in their economies and lack easy alternatives, and some where oil and gas are the foundation of their economic structure.

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

Should the proposal receives enough support, the summit could establish a forum in which the work of drawing up a strategy to the transition could begin.

This process would require discussions with every signatory nations to the UN framework convention on climate change and criteria for how the initiative would proceed, Silva said. “Once we have standards, a governance structure can be drawn up; after we have a plan, and create safeguards to be able to establish confidence in the system, I believe that with these elements we can turn good ideas into steps that are more defined, and more concrete.”

It is uncertain that a suggestion to start developing a roadmap would be accepted at the conference, although it does not require the official consent of the summit, which operates by consensus and can be disrupted by particular groups. COP analysts have suggested they believe there could be backing for such a proposal from about 60 countries, but there are thought to be at least 40 against. There are 195 nations participating at the negotiations.

“Despite being the root cause of climate change, carbon-based energy are about the most contentious subject there is within the international climate talks, so to see a sizable group of nations publicly supporting a route to achieving worldwide transition is in itself highly significant.”

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

“We require this wording for real in this discussion. It’s quite stupid that we discuss all topics but that when the main issue are the real problem.”

Negotiations continued on the weekend on four unresolved topics that have still not been incorporated into the formal agenda: trade, transparency, funding and how to address the shortfall between the emissions cuts countries have planned and those needed to hold to the 1.5-degree warming limit.

The summit chair pledged a “document” that would address these matters, after discussions – which have been underway since the start of the week – were unresolved. The official called on nations to adopt the “mutirão” attitude, referring to one of collaboration and positive dialogue.

Work on additional substantive issues – such as adjustment to the effects of the climate crisis, 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 productively, the host reported.

Brazil’s chief negotiator said the technical part of the summit process was approaching the end, and the high-level stage – when ministers who have the authority to change their countries’ stances arrive – was beginning.