🔗 Share this article

Brazil’s environment minister, the minister, has urged all nations to demonstrate the courage needed to address the imperative of a global transition away from fossil fuels, labeling the creation of a roadmap as an “ethical” response to the climate crisis.

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

This issue stands as one of the most debated matters at the UN climate summit in Brazil, with countries divided over whether and in what way such a roadmap can be discussed. Hosting the event, Brazil has maintained a balanced position on what can be included on the formal schedule.

Silva voiced approval for the potential of a roadmap, though not explicitly pledging the country to it. She stated: “When we have a terrain that is very challenging, it is good that we have a map. But the map does not compel us to travel, or to climb.”

Speaking further, she noted: “The map is an answer to our scientific knowledge [of the climate crisis]. It is an ethical answer.”

Dozens of nations gathered in the host city for the UN climate summit, which is starting its second week, are aiming to establish how a worldwide phaseout of oil, gas, and coal could work. They hope to build on a historic resolution reached two years ago at a previous UN summit to “transition away from fossil fuels.”

That commitment had no a schedule or details on the way it could be achieved, and although it was adopted by all, some nations have later tried to back away from the pledge. Efforts last year to elaborate on its practical meaning were stymied by opposition 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 that conference.

For these reasons, the host has been wary of calls by certain nations to place the transition on the schedule for COP30. But the minister has strived in private to make sure the pledge could be talked about at the conference apart from the formal agenda.

The minister convinced the nation's leader, and he made public reference three times to the need to “shift from reliance on traditional energy” at the summit of world leaders that came before the conference, and at the start of the event.

“This is a matter that we understand at some point had to be raised, because it is the only way to face the issue from the source,” the minister said. “We recognise that it is challenging, and we must not sell false hopes. Bringing up the topic is brave, and I hope [to see] this bravery from everyone, from producing nations and using countries.”

Brazil had not started the call for a transition, the minister said, because that had been done at the earlier summit. Rather, it was allowing the discussions to take place in accordance with what some nations wished. “We know these subjects are sensitive. We will give the opportunity to discuss it,” the minister added.

There is not enough time at the summit to create a detailed plan, a process the minister said could take a number of years because many nations confronted complex challenges around dependence on carbon-based energy, or wanted to use the proceeds from selling oil and gas to finance their development.

“Brazil brings up the subject, because Brazil is both a producing nation and user,” the minister said. “But the nation is unique, because Brazil, if it chooses to, does not have to rely on fossil fuels. We have to understand that there are certain nations that depend on carbon energy in their economies and don’t have simple solutions, and some where fossil fuels are the foundation of their economy.

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

If the proposal gains enough support, the summit could set up a forum in which the process of creating a strategy to the transition could start.

This process would require dialogue with every signatory nations to the UN climate treaty and guidelines for how the process would unfold, the minister said. “Once we have standards, a governance structure can be drawn up; after we have a plan, and establish protections to be able to build trust in the system, I believe that with these elements we can transform positive concepts into steps that are clearer, and more tangible.”

It is uncertain that a proposal to start developing a roadmap would win approval at COP30, even if it does not require the formal consent of the conference, which operates by consensus and can be hijacked by special interests. COP experts have suggested they think there could be support for such a proposal from about sixty nations, but there are believed to be at least 40 opposed. A total of 195 countries participating at the negotiations.

“In spite of being the root cause of climate change, fossil fuels are about the most contentious topic there is within the UN negotiations, so to see a sizable coalition of countries publicly supporting a path to achieving global phaseout is in itself highly significant.”

“Put simply, there’s no route to a planet where temperature rise remains below 1.5C in which countries aren’t able to discuss ending fossil fuel use.”

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

Negotiations continued on the weekend on several unresolved issues that have not yet been incorporated into the official schedule: commerce, transparency, funding and how to address the gap between the carbon reduction countries have planned and those needed to hold to the 1.5-degree warming target.

A summit president promised a “note” that would cover these matters, after discussions – which have been going on since Monday – were inconclusive. He called on countries to embrace the “mutirão” spirit, meaning one of collaboration and constructive discussion.

Work on additional key topics – including adjustment to the impacts of the climate emergency, the just transition for those impacted by the transition to a low-carbon economy and how to strengthen institutional capacity in developing countries – proceeded constructively, the host reported.

The host nation's lead representative stated the detailed part of the COP process was approaching the end, and the political phase – when government leaders who have the authority to alter their nations' positions arrive – was beginning.