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As dawn illuminated the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, negotiators remained confined in a windowless conference room, oblivious whether it was day or night. They had been 12 hours in strained discussions, with scores ministers representing various coalitions of countries ranging from the least developed nations to the richest economies.

Tempers were short, the air stifling as exhausted delegates confronted the grim reality: they were unlikely to achieve a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The international climate negotiations hovered near the brink of total collapse.

The sticking point: Fossil fuels

As science has told us for nearly a century, the carbon dioxide produced by burning fossil fuels is warming our planet to critical levels.

Nevertheless, during over three decades of annual climate meetings, the crucial requirement to halt fossil fuel use has been addressed only once – in a decision made two years ago at Cop28 to "move beyond fossil fuels". Representatives from the Arab Group, Russia, and multiple other countries were adamant this would not happen again.

Growing momentum for change

Simultaneously, a growing number of countries were similarly resolved that advancement on this issue was urgently necessary. They had developed a plan that was gathering expanding support and made it apparent they were willing to dig in.

Less wealthy nations strongly sought to advance on securing economic resources to help them address the growing impacts of environmental crises.

Critical moment

In the pre-dawn period of Saturday, some delegates were prepared to withdraw and cause breakdown. "We were close for us," remarked one government representative. "I was ready to walk away."

The critical development occurred through negotiations with Saudi Arabia. Near 6am, key negotiators split from the main group to hold a confidential discussion with the lead Saudi negotiator. They encouraged text that would subtly reference the global commitment to "move beyond fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Surprising consensus

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

Participants collapsed into relief. Celebrations began. The agreement 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 faltering, limited step that will scarcely affect the climate's continued progression towards crisis. But nevertheless a significant departure from absolute paralysis.

Important aspects of the agreement

• In addition to the subtle acknowledgment in the formal agreement, countries will commence creating a roadmap to phase out fossil fuels
• This will be largely a non-binding program led by Brazil that will report back next year
• Addressing the essential decreases in greenhouse gas emissions to stay within the 1.5C limit was also put off to next year
• Developing countries obtained a significant expansion to $120bn of yearly funding to help them cope with the impacts of climate disasters
• This sum will not be completely provided until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "fair adjustment program" to help people working in fossil fuel sectors move toward the sustainable sector

Mixed reactions

With global conditions approaches the brink of climate "tipping points" that could devastate environments and force whole regions into chaos, the agreement was far from the "significant advancement" needed.

"The summit provided some small advances in the right direction, but given the scale of the climate crisis, it has fallen short of the occasion," cautioned one policy director.

This imperfect deal might have been the maximum achievable, given the international tensions – including a Washington administration who shunned the talks and remains committed to oil and coal, the rising tide of nationalist politics, continuing wars in various areas, extreme measures of inequality, and global economic instability.

"Fossil fuel corporations – the energy conglomerates – were finally in the spotlight at Cop30," notes one climate activist. "There is no turning back on that. The opportunity is open. Now we must transform it into a genuine solution to a safer world."

Deep fissures revealed

Although nations were able to welcome the formal approval 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 period of geopolitical divides, consensus is progressively challenging to reach," commented one global leader. "We should not suggest that these talks has provided all that is needed. The disparity between our current position and what research requires remains dangerously wide."

If the world is to avert the most severe impacts of climate crisis, the international negotiations alone will prove insufficient.