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While dawn crept over the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, representatives remained trapped in a windowless conference room, uncertain whether it was day or night. For more than 12 hours in difficult discussions, with scores ministers representing various coalitions of countries from the most vulnerable nations to the richest economies.

Patience wore thin, the air stifling as exhausted delegates confronted the sobering reality: they were unlikely to achieve a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The latest global climate summit faced the brink of abject failure.

The sticking point: Fossil fuels

Research has demonstrated for nearly a century, the carbon dioxide produced by consuming fossil fuels is increasing temperatures on our planet to alarming levels.

However, during over three decades of regular 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 "move beyond fossil fuels". Representatives from the Gulf states, Russia, and multiple other countries were determined this would not be repeated.

Mounting support for change

Meanwhile, a growing number of countries were equally determined that progress on this issue was urgently necessary. They had developed a plan that was attracting increasing support and made it evident they were willing to dig in.

Less wealthy nations urgently needed to advance on securing economic resources to help them manage the increasingly severe impacts of climate disasters.

Breaking point

By the early hours of Saturday, some delegates were ready to withdraw and trigger failure. "It was on the edge for us," remarked one energy minister. "I considered to walk away."

The pivotal moment happened through talks with Saudi Arabia. Shortly after 6am, senior representatives left the main group to hold a private conversation with the chief Saudi negotiator. They pressed language that would indirectly acknowledge the global commitment to "transition away from fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Unexpected agreement

Rather than explicitly namechecking fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the UAE consensus". Following reflection, the Saudi delegation unforeseeably approved the wording.

The room collapsed into relief. Cheers erupted. The settlement was finalized.

With what became known as the "Belém political package", the world took a modest advance towards the gradual elimination of fossil fuels – a hesitant, limited step that will minimally impact the climate's steady march towards disaster. But nevertheless a important shift from absolute paralysis.

Key elements of the agreement

• In addition to the oblique commitment in the formal agreement, countries will commence creating a roadmap to gradually eliminate fossil fuels
• This will be largely a voluntary initiative led by Brazil that will report back next year
• Addressing the necessary cuts in greenhouse gas emissions to stay within the 1.5C limit was similarly postponed to next year
• Developing countries obtained a threefold increase to $120bn of yearly funding to help them manage the impacts of extreme weather
• This amount will not be delivered in full until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "equitable change process" to help people working in polluting businesses shift to the clean economy

Differing opinions

While our planet approaches the brink of climate "critical thresholds" that could eliminate habitats and force whole regions into crisis, the agreement was insufficient as the "significant advancement" needed.

"Negotiators delivered some baby steps in the proper course, but considering the scale of the climate crisis, it has failed to rise to the occasion," cautioned one policy director.

This limited deal might have been all that was possible, given the political challenges – including a American leader who shunned the talks and remains wedded to oil and coal, the rising tide of conservative movements, continuing wars in multiple regions, intolerable levels of inequality, and global economic uncertainty.

"Fossil fuel corporations – the oil and gas companies – were ultimately in the crosshairs at these negotiations," notes 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 more secure planet."

Significant divisions revealed

Although nations were able to applaud the official adoption of the deal, Cop30 also highlighted significant divisions in the sole international mechanism for addressing the climate crisis.

"UN negotiations are unanimity-required, and in a era of international tensions, agreement is ever harder to reach," stated one international diplomat. "We should not suggest that Cop30 has provided all that is needed. The difference between our current position and what science demands remains concerningly substantial."

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