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As dawn was breaking the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, representatives remained trapped in a windowless conference room, oblivious whether it was day or night. Having spent 12 hours in strained discussions, with dozens ministers representing multiple blocs of countries from the most vulnerable nations to the wealthiest economies.

Tempers were short, the air stifling as sweaty delegates acknowledged the grim reality: there would not be a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The latest global climate summit faced the brink of complete breakdown.

The major obstacle: Fossil fuels

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

Nevertheless, during over three decades of regular climate meetings, the essential necessity to cease fossil fuel use has been mentioned only once – in a resolution made two years ago at Cop28 to "shift from fossil fuels". Officials from the Arab Group, Russia, and multiple other countries were adamant this would not be repeated.

Growing momentum for change

At the same time, a increasing coalition of countries were just as committed that movement on this issue was urgently necessary. They had formulated a initiative that was attracting expanding support and made it clear they were ready to hold firm.

Emerging economies urgently needed to advance on securing funding support to help them cope with the already disastrous impacts of extreme weather.

Breaking point

In the pre-dawn period of Saturday, some delegates were ready to leave and force a collapse. "We were close for us," remarked one government representative. "I was ready to walk away."

The critical development happened through discussions with Saudi Arabia. Near 6am, senior representatives separated from the main group to hold a closed-door meeting with the lead Saudi negotiator. They urged wording that would indirectly acknowledge the global commitment to "move beyond fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Surprising consensus

As opposed to explicitly mentioning fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the UAE consensus". Upon deliberation, the Saudi delegation surprisingly agreed to the wording.

The room showed visible relief. Cheers erupted. The deal 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 faltering, inadequate step that will barely interrupt the climate's ongoing trajectory towards crisis. But nevertheless a significant departure from total inaction.

Key elements of the agreement

• Alongside the oblique commitment in the official document, countries will commence creating a plan to phase out fossil fuels
• This will be mostly a voluntary initiative led by Brazil that will provide updates next year
• Addressing the required reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to stay within the 1.5C limit was similarly postponed to next year
• Developing countries obtained a significant expansion to $120bn of regular financial support to help them adapt to the impacts of environmental crises
• This amount will not be fully available until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "just transition mechanism" to help people working in high-carbon industries shift to the sustainable sector

Varied responses

With global conditions approaches the brink of climate "tipping points" that could destroy ecosystems and plunge whole regions into disorder, the agreement was far from the "major breakthrough" needed.

"Negotiators delivered some baby steps in the proper course, but in light of the severity of the climate crisis, it has fallen short of the occasion," cautioned one policy director.

This flawed deal might have been the best attainable, given the international tensions – including a US president who shunned the talks and remains aligned with oil and coal, the growing influence of conservative movements, persistent fighting in various areas, intolerable levels of inequality, and global economic volatility.

"Major polluters – the energy conglomerates – were finally in the crosshairs at these negotiations," says one climate activist. "We have crossed a threshold on that. The platform is open. Now we must turn it into a genuine solution to a more secure planet."

Deep fissures revealed

Although nations were able to applaud the gavelling through of the deal, Cop30 also highlighted deep fissures in the primary worldwide framework for confronting the climate crisis.

"International summits are unanimity-required, and in a time of international tensions, agreement is progressively challenging to reach," observed one senior UN official. "We should not suggest that these talks has delivered everything that is needed. The gap between our current position and what science demands remains dangerously wide."

When the world is to avert the gravest consequences of climate collapse, the international negotiations alone will fall far short.