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While dawn illuminated the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, negotiators remained confined in a enclosed conference room, uncertain whether it was day or night. Having spent 12 hours in difficult discussions, with dozens ministers representing various coalitions of countries from the most vulnerable nations to the richest economies.

Patience wore thin, the air thick as weary delegates faced up to the sobering reality: there would not be a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The international climate negotiations faced the brink of complete breakdown.

The major obstacle: Fossil fuels

Research has demonstrated for well over a century, the CO2 emissions produced by utilizing fossil fuels is warming our planet to dangerous levels.

However, during over three decades of annual climate meetings, the essential necessity to cease fossil fuel use has been mentioned only once – in a agreement made two years ago at previous UN climate talks to "move beyond fossil fuels". Delegates from the Gulf states, Russia, and multiple other countries were determined this would not occur another time.

Increasing pressure for change

At the same time, a increasing coalition of countries were just as committed that advancement on this issue was crucially important. They had developed a initiative that was earning expanding support and made it apparent they were willing to hold firm.

Developing countries strongly sought to move forward on securing funding support to help them cope with the increasingly severe impacts of climate disasters.

Breaking point

During the night of Saturday, some delegates were prepared to walk out and force a collapse. "It was on the edge for us," remarked one energy minister. "I considered to walk away."

The breakthrough came through talks with Saudi Arabia. Near 6am, senior representatives left the main group to hold a closed-door meeting with the head Saudi negotiator. They urged language that would indirectly acknowledge the global commitment to "transition away from fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Unexpected agreement

Instead of explicitly mentioning fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the UAE consensus". Following reflection, the Saudi delegation surprisingly agreed to the wording.

The room collapsed into relief. Celebrations began. The settlement was finalized.

With what became known as the "Belém political package", the world took another small step towards the gradual elimination of fossil fuels – a hesitant, inadequate step that will minimally impact the climate's steady march towards disaster. But nevertheless a notable change from total inaction.

Major components of the agreement

• Alongside the subtle acknowledgment in the legally agreed text, countries will commence creating a framework to systematically reduce fossil fuels
• This will be primarily a optional undertaking led by Brazil that will report back next year
• Addressing the essential decreases in greenhouse gas emissions to remain below the 1.5C limit was similarly postponed to next year
• Developing countries achieved a tripling to $120bn of annual finance to help them cope with the impacts of environmental crises
• This funding will not be delivered in full until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "fair adjustment program" to help people working in polluting businesses transition to the clean economy

Varied responses

With global conditions teeters on the brink of climate "tipping points" that could destroy ecosystems and plunge whole regions into chaos, the agreement was insufficient as the "giant leap" needed.

"The summit provided some modest progress in the right direction, but in light of the scale of the climate crisis, it has not met the occasion," warned one policy director.

This flawed deal might have been the maximum achievable, given the international tensions – including a US president who ignored the talks and remains aligned with oil and coal, the growing influence of conservative movements, persistent fighting in different locations, unacceptable degrees of inequality, and global economic instability.

"The climate arsonists – the energy conglomerates – were ultimately in the focus at these negotiations," notes one policy convener. "There is no turning back on that. The opportunity is available. Now we must transform it into a genuine solution to a safer world."

Deep fissures revealed

Even as nations were able to celebrate the formal approval of the deal, Cop30 also revealed significant divisions in the only global process for tackling the climate crisis.

"UN negotiations are agreement-dependent, and in a era of geopolitical divides, agreement is increasingly difficult to reach," stated one senior UN official. "I cannot pretend that this summit has achieved complete success that is needed. The difference between where we are and what evidence necessitates remains dangerously wide."

When the world is to avert the gravest consequences of climate crisis, the global discussions alone will prove insufficient.