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As dawn illuminated the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, negotiators remained confined in a enclosed conference room, oblivious whether it was day or night. Having spent 12 hours in strained discussions, with dozens ministers representing various coalitions of countries ranging from the poorest nations to the most developed economies.

Patience wore thin, the air heavy as exhausted delegates faced up to the grim reality: they were unlikely to achieve a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The latest global climate summit faced the brink of total collapse.

The central impasse: Fossil fuels

As science has told us for well over a century, the CO2 emissions produced by utilizing fossil fuels is increasing temperatures on our planet to critical levels.

Yet, during over three decades of annual climate meetings, the essential necessity to halt fossil fuel use has been referenced only once – in a agreement made two years ago at Cop28 to "transition away from fossil fuels". Representatives from the Middle Eastern nations, Russia, and a few other countries were adamant this would not occur another time.

Mounting support for change

Simultaneously, a growing number of countries were equally determined that advancement on this issue was urgently necessary. They had formulated a proposal that was gathering growing support and made it apparent they were willing to hold firm.

Less wealthy nations desperately wanted to make progress on securing funding support to help them address the increasingly severe impacts of extreme weather.

Breaking point

During the night of Saturday, some delegates were prepared to withdraw and cause breakdown. "The situation was precarious for us," stated one energy minister. "I was ready to walk away."

The breakthrough came through negotiations with Saudi Arabia. Around 6am, principal delegates left the main group to hold a confidential discussion with the chief Saudi negotiator. They pressed language that would subtly reference the global commitment to "shift from fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Unanticipated resolution

Rather than explicitly mentioning fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the UAE consensus". Upon deliberation, the Saudi delegation surprisingly accepted the wording.

The room expressed relief. Celebrations began. The deal was done.

With what became known as the "Belém political package", the world took an incremental move towards the gradual elimination of fossil fuels – a hesitant, inadequate step that will barely interrupt the climate's steady march towards catastrophe. But nevertheless a significant departure from total inaction.

Key elements of the agreement

• Alongside the oblique commitment in the legally agreed text, countries will begin work a framework to gradually eliminate fossil fuels
• This will be largely a non-binding program led by Brazil that will provide updates next year
• Addressing the required reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to not exceed the 1.5C limit was also put off to next year
• Developing countries achieved a tripling to $120bn of yearly funding to help them adapt to the impacts of extreme weather
• This sum will not be fully available until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "fair adjustment program" to help people working in high-carbon industries transition to the clean economy

Differing opinions

With global conditions hovers near the brink of climate "irreversible changes" that could destroy ecosystems and throw whole regions into disorder, the agreement was far from the "significant advancement" needed.

"Negotiators delivered some baby steps in the correct path, but considering the scale of the climate crisis, it has failed to rise to the occasion," cautioned one climate expert.

This limited deal might have been all that was possible, given the international tensions – including a American leader who ignored the talks and remains committed to oil and coal, the growing influence of nationalist politics, ongoing conflicts in various areas, unacceptable degrees of inequality, and global economic volatility.

"Fossil fuel corporations – the energy conglomerates – were finally in the focus at these negotiations," says one climate activist. "There is no turning back on that. The opportunity is open. Now we must turn it into a actual pathway to a protected environment."

Major disagreements revealed

Although nations were able to applaud the formal approval of the deal, Cop30 also highlighted major disagreements in the primary worldwide framework for addressing the climate crisis.

"UN negotiations are unanimity-required, and in a period of international tensions, unanimity is progressively challenging to reach," commented one international diplomat. "It would be dishonest to claim that this summit has achieved complete success that is needed. The gap between where we are and what science demands remains dangerously wide."

When the world is to prevent the worst ravages of climate breakdown, the international negotiations alone will prove insufficient.