Brazil’s Environment Minister, Marina Silva, has called for international cooperation to create a voluntary roadmap for the phaseout of fossil fuels, framing it as a necessary ethical response to the climate crisis. She emphasized that participation would be self-determined for nations that choose to engage. The proposal has emerged as a significant topic at the ongoing COP30 summit in Brazil, with host country Brazil maintaining a neutral stance on the formal agenda surrounding the issue.
Silva expressed a positive outlook regarding the development of a roadmap but did not formally commit Brazil to the initiative. She noted, “When we have a terrain or environment that is quite grim, it is good that we have a map.” Silva added that the proposal serves as a response to scientific knowledge about climate change, describing it as an ethical consideration.
Numerous countries at the UN climate summit in Belém are looking to establish practical approaches to phasing out fossil fuels, building on a resolution from COP28, which called for a transition without a set timeline or specific details. Although the prior resolution received unanimous support, some nations have distanced themselves from the commitment since then.
Brazil has been cautious regarding proposals to incorporate the transition into the formal agenda due to the sensitivity of the topic amid various interests at the summit. Silva has worked to foster discussions on the phaseout outside the formal context. Notably, Brazilian President Luis Inácio Lula da Silva has referenced the need to reduce dependence on fossil fuels several times at the summit.
Silva highlighted that Brazil is both a producer and consumer of fossil fuels, and discussions on the phaseout require sensitivity to each nation’s economic context. While establishing a roadmap might take several years, Silva stated that if supported, COP30 could initiate a forum for dialogue on this matter. The outcome of these discussions will depend on the ability to address the interests of various nations, considering that negotiations have demonstrated stark divisions between supporting and opposing countries.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/nov/16/have-courage-to-create-fossil-fuel-phaseout-roadmap-at-cop30-brazilian-minister-urges