Brazil's Environment Minister Urges Courage to Create Fossil Energy Phaseout Roadmap at UN Climate Summit

Brazil’s climate chief, the minister, has urged all nations to demonstrate the bravery needed to address the necessity of a global transition away from fossil fuels, labeling the creation of a roadmap as an “moral” answer to the global warming emergency.

She stressed, though, that participation in this process would be voluntary and “independently decided” for interested governments.

This issue remains one of the most debated matters at the UN climate summit in Brazil, with nations divided over if and how such a strategy can be discussed. As the host, the nation has maintained a balanced stance on which items can be placed on the formal agenda.

The official voiced support for the possibility of a roadmap, though not directly pledging the country to it. The minister stated: “In times we have a terrain that is very challenging, it is helpful that we have a guide. But the guide does not compel us to proceed, or to climb.”

In an interview, the minister added: “The roadmap is an answer to our scientific understanding [of the climate emergency]. It is an ethical response.”

Dozens of countries meeting in the host city for the UN climate summit, which is entering its next phase, are aiming to determine how a global phaseout of oil, gas, and coal could work. These nations hope to build on a historic agreement made two years ago at a previous UN summit to “transition away from fossil fuels.”

That pledge had no a schedule or specifics on the way it could be realized, and although it was adopted unanimously, some countries have since tried to disavow the promise. Attempts last year to elaborate on its practical meaning were blocked by opposition from oil-dependent nations at COP29.

As a result, there was no mention of the shift away from fossil fuels in the final agreement of that conference.

For these reasons, Brazil has been cautious of demands by some nations to include the transition on the schedule for the current summit. But Silva has strived behind the scenes to make sure the topic could be discussed at the conference apart from the official agenda.

The minister convinced the nation's leader, who gave public reference repeatedly to the need to “move away from dependence on fossil fuels” at the summit of world leaders that came before COP30, and at the opening of the event.

“This is something that we know at some point had to be put forward, because it is the sole way to face the issue from the root,” Marina Silva explained. “We recognise that it is challenging, and we cannot offer unrealistic expectations. Raising the topic is courageous, and I wish [to see] this courage from all, from producing nations and using countries.”

The nation had not initiated the push for a phaseout, the minister said, because that had been done at the earlier summit. Instead, it was allowing the discussions to take place in line with what certain nations wished. “We know these subjects are delicate. We will provide the opportunity to talk about it,” she added.

Time is insufficient at the summit to create a detailed plan, a task the minister called could take a number of years because numerous countries faced complicated issues around dependence on carbon-based energy, or aimed to use the proceeds from selling oil and gas to finance their economic growth.

“The country brings up the subject, because Brazil is simultaneously a producing nation and consumer,” 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 carbon energy in their economic systems and lack simple alternatives, and others where oil and gas are the foundation of their economic structure.

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

If the pledge gains enough support, COP30 could establish a platform in which the process of creating a roadmap to the transition could start.

This endeavor would involve dialogue with all participating nations to the UN framework convention on climate change and criteria for how the initiative would proceed, the minister said. “Once we have criteria, a governance structure can be developed; once we have a plan, and create protections to be able to establish trust in the process, I believe that with these components we can transform good ideas into actions that are more defined, and more tangible.”

It is uncertain that a proposal to begin developing a roadmap would be accepted at the conference, although it may not need the official consent of the conference, which proceeds by unanimous agreement and can be disrupted by particular groups. COP analysts have suggested they think there could be support for such a proposal from about 60 countries, but there are believed to be at least forty opposed. There are one hundred ninety-five countries represented at the negotiations.

“In spite of being the primary source of global warming, carbon-based energy are about the most divisive topic there is within the international climate talks, so to see a chunky group of countries openly supporting a route to achieving global transition is in itself pretty groundbreaking.”

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

“We need this language for real in this discussion. It’s highly illogical that we discuss all topics but that when the main issue are the actual problem.”

Discussions carried on on the weekend on several outstanding issues that have not yet been included into the official agenda: trade, openness, finance and how to tackle the gap between the carbon reduction countries have proposed and those required to keep to the 1.5-degree temperature target.

A COP30 president promised a “note” that would address these matters, after discussions – which have been underway since the start of the week – were unresolved. The official urged nations to embrace the “mutirão” spirit, meaning one of cooperation and constructive dialogue.

Work on additional key issues – such as adjustment to the effects of the climate crisis, the just transition for those affected by the move to a green economy and how to strengthen governance capabilities in less developed nations – proceeded productively, the presidency said.

Brazil’s lead representative said the technical phase of the summit process was approaching the end, and the political stage – when ministers who have the authority to change their nations' stances arrive – was beginning.