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As dawn crept over the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, negotiators remained trapped in a windowless conference room, oblivious whether it was day or night. For more than 12 hours in difficult discussions, with dozens ministers representing multiple blocs of countries including the most vulnerable nations to the wealthiest economies.

Patience wore thin, the air stifling as sweaty delegates acknowledged the sobering reality: they would not reach a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The international climate negotiations hovered near the brink of complete breakdown.

The major obstacle: Fossil fuels

As science has told us for well over a century, the greenhouse gases produced by consuming fossil fuels is increasing temperatures on our planet to alarming levels.

Nevertheless, during nearly three decades of yearly climate meetings, the urgent need to stop fossil fuel use has been mentioned only once – in a resolution made two years ago at Cop28 to "transition away from fossil fuels". Representatives from the Middle Eastern nations, Russia, and several other countries were determined this would not be repeated.

Increasing pressure for change

At the same time, a expanding group of countries were similarly resolved that movement on this issue was vitally needed. They had developed a plan that was attracting increasing support and made it clear they were willing to stand their ground.

Developing countries desperately wanted to advance on securing funding support to help them cope with the already disastrous impacts of climate disasters.

Turning point

During the night of Saturday, some delegates were ready to leave and force a collapse. "We were close for us," stated one energy minister. "I was ready to walk away."

The critical development came through negotiations with Saudi Arabia. Around 6am, key negotiators split from the main group to hold a private conversation with the head Saudi negotiator. They urged wording that would indirectly acknowledge the global commitment to "transition away from fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Surprising consensus

Rather than explicitly namechecking fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the previous commitment". Following reflection, the Saudi delegation unforeseeably accepted the wording.

The room expressed relief. Celebrations began. The settlement was finalized.

With what became known as the "Belém political package", the world took an incremental move towards the gradual elimination of fossil fuels – a hesitant, insufficient step that will minimally impact the climate's steady march towards catastrophe. But nevertheless a important shift from complete stagnation.

Important aspects of the agreement

• Complementing the subtle acknowledgment in the legally agreed text, countries will commence creating a roadmap to phase out fossil fuels
• This will be primarily a non-binding program led by Brazil that will deliver findings next year
• Addressing the required reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to remain below the 1.5C limit was similarly postponed to next year
• Developing countries secured a tripling to $120bn of annual finance to help them manage the impacts of extreme weather
• This funding will not be completely provided until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "fair adjustment program" to help people working in high-carbon industries shift to the sustainable sector

Differing opinions

As the world approaches the brink of climate "irreversible changes" 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 considering the magnitude of the climate crisis, it has fallen short of the occasion," stated one climate expert.

This imperfect deal might have been all that was possible, given the international tensions – including a Washington administration who shunned the talks and remains committed to oil and coal, the increasing presence of rightwing populism, ongoing conflicts in different locations, intolerable levels of inequality, and global economic instability.

"Major polluters – the oil and gas companies – were at last in the crosshairs at the climate summit," says one climate activist. "There is no turning back on that. The platform is available. Now we must turn it into a actual pathway to a more secure planet."

Deep fissures revealed

While nations were able to celebrate the official adoption of the deal, Cop30 also revealed significant divisions in the primary worldwide framework for addressing the climate crisis.

"UN negotiations are agreement-dependent, and in a period of geopolitical divides, agreement is increasingly difficult to reach," observed one senior UN official. "It would be dishonest to claim that this summit has achieved complete success that is needed. The disparity between our current position and what research requires remains dangerously wide."

When the world is to avoid the worst ravages of climate breakdown, the global discussions alone will not be nearly enough.