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The environment minister, Marina Silva, has urged every country to demonstrate the bravery needed to confront the imperative of a worldwide fossil fuel phaseout, describing the creation of a roadmap as an “moral” answer to the climate crisis.

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

The topic remains one of the most contentious subjects at the UN climate summit in the host country, with nations split over whether and in what way such a strategy can be discussed. Hosting the event, the nation has adopted a balanced stance on what can be placed on the official agenda.

The official expressed approval for the potential of a roadmap, without explicitly committing Brazil to it. The minister stated: “In times we have a situation that is very challenging, it is helpful that we have a guide. But the guide does not compel us to travel, or to advance.”

In an interview, the minister added: “The map is an response to our scientific understanding [of the climate crisis]. It is an moral response.”

Scores of countries meeting in Belém for the UN climate summit, which is starting its second week, are aiming to determine how a global transition of fossil fuels could be implemented. These nations aim to build on a historic agreement made two years ago at a previous UN summit to “transition away from non-renewable energy sources.”

That pledge lacked a timetable or details on how it could be achieved, and although it was adopted unanimously, some countries have later tried to disavow the pledge. Attempts last year to expand on its practical meaning were stymied by opposition from petrostates at another UN summit.

Consequently, there was no mention of the shift away from carbon fuels in the outcome of that conference.

For these reasons, the host has been wary of calls by some 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 conference outside the official program.

She convinced Brazil’s leader, and he gave public reference repeatedly to the need to “shift from dependence on traditional energy” at the summit of world leaders that preceded COP30, and at the start of the summit.

“The issue is something that we understand at some point had to be put forward, because it is the only way to face the problem from the root,” the minister explained. “We recognise that it is challenging, and we cannot sell false hopes. Raising the subject is courageous, and I wish [to see] this bravery from all, from producing nations and using countries.”

The nation had not started the call for a transition, the minister clarified, because that had been done at COP28. Instead, it was allowing the talks to occur in line with what some countries wished. “We understand these subjects are sensitive. We will give the opportunity to discuss it,” she said.

Time is insufficient at the summit to create a detailed plan, a process the minister said could take a number of years because numerous nations confronted complicated challenges around dependence on carbon-based energy, or wanted to use the proceeds from exporting oil and gas to finance their economic growth.

“Brazil brings up the topic, because Brazil is both a producer and consumer,” she said. “But Brazil is unique, because Brazil, if it chooses to, does not have to depend on non-renewables. We have to recognise that there are certain nations that rely on fossil fuels in their economies and don’t have simple alternatives, and some where oil and gas are the foundation of their economic structure.

“To be fair is to be fair to everyone, but the essential, primordial justice is to avoid being unfair to the planet, because it is our shared home.”

If the pledge receives enough backing, the summit could establish a platform in which the work of drawing up a roadmap to the transition could begin.

The process would involve dialogue with all signatory nations to the UN framework convention on climate change and criteria for how the process would proceed, Silva explained. “After we have standards, a management framework can be drawn up; once we have a strategy, and create protections to be able to establish confidence in the process, I am confident that with these components we can turn good ideas into steps that are clearer, and more tangible.”

There is no guarantee that a suggestion to begin drawing up a plan would be accepted at the conference, although it may not need the official approval of the summit, which proceeds by unanimous agreement and can be hijacked by particular groups. Climate analysts have indicated they believe there could be support for such a idea from about sixty nations, but there are thought to be at least 40 opposed. There are 195 countries participating at the negotiations.

“In spite of being the root cause of climate change, carbon-based energy are about the most divisive subject there is within the international climate talks, so to see a chunky group of countries publicly supporting a route to realizing worldwide transition is in itself highly significant.”

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

“We require this language for real in this conversation. It’s quite stupid that we talk about everything but that when the main issue are the actual challenge.”

Negotiations carried on on Saturday on several unresolved issues that have still not been incorporated into the formal schedule: commerce, transparency, funding and how to tackle the shortfall between the emissions cuts countries have proposed and those needed to keep to the 1.5-degree temperature limit.

A COP30 president pledged a “note” that would cover these matters, after consultations – which have been going on since Monday – were unresolved. He urged nations to embrace the “mutirão” attitude, referring to one of cooperation and constructive discussion.

Work on additional key topics – including adaptation to the impacts of the climate crisis, the fair shift for those impacted by the move to a low-carbon economic system and how to strengthen institutional capacity in less developed nations – proceeded productively, the host said.

The host nation's chief negotiator said the detailed phase of the summit process was approaching completion, and the high-level stage – when ministers who have the authority to alter their nations' positions arrive – was beginning.