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As dawn illuminated the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, delegates remained trapped in a windowless conference room, uncertain whether it was day or night. Having spent 12 hours in difficult discussions, with dozens ministers representing 17 groups of countries from the most vulnerable nations to the richest economies.

Patience wore thin, the air heavy as weary delegates confronted the sobering reality: they were unlikely to achieve a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The latest global climate summit faced the brink of total collapse.

The major obstacle: Fossil fuels

Scientific evidence has shown for nearly a century, the greenhouse gases produced by burning fossil fuels is heating up our planet to critical levels.

Nevertheless, during more than three decades of annual climate meetings, the crucial requirement to cease fossil fuel use has been mentioned only once – in a decision made two years ago at the Dubai climate summit to "move beyond fossil fuels". Officials from the Middle Eastern nations, Russia, and several other countries were resolved this would not happen again.

Growing momentum for change

Meanwhile, a expanding group of countries were similarly resolved that progress on this issue was urgently necessary. They had created a plan that was gathering increasing support and made it clear they were willing to hold firm.

Less wealthy nations desperately wanted to move forward on securing economic resources to help them manage the growing impacts of environmental crises.

Critical moment

By the early hours of Saturday, some delegates were willing to leave and force a collapse. "We were close for us," remarked one energy minister. "I was prepared to walk away."

The breakthrough occurred through negotiations with Saudi Arabia. Shortly after 6am, senior representatives separated from the main group to hold a closed-door meeting with the chief Saudi negotiator. They urged text that would indirectly acknowledge the global commitment to "shift from fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Surprising consensus

As opposed to explicitly mentioning fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the previous commitment". Upon deliberation, the Saudi delegation unforeseeably approved the wording.

The room expressed relief. Celebrations began. The agreement was completed.

With what became known as the "Belém political package", the world took an incremental move towards the systematic reduction of fossil fuels – a uncertain, limited step that will minimally impact the climate's ongoing trajectory towards catastrophe. But nevertheless a significant departure from complete stagnation.

Key elements of the agreement

• Alongside the indirect reference in the formal agreement, countries will begin work a plan to phase out fossil fuels
• This will be mostly a non-binding program led by Brazil that will provide updates next year
• Addressing the essential decreases in greenhouse gas emissions to not exceed the 1.5C limit was likewise deferred to next year
• Developing countries secured a tripling to $120bn of annual finance to help them cope with the impacts of environmental crises
• This funding will not be fully available until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "fair adjustment program" to help people working in fossil fuel sectors shift to the clean economy

Mixed reactions

As the world teeters on the brink of climate "tipping points" that could devastate environments and force whole regions into chaos, the agreement was far from the "giant leap" needed.

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

This imperfect deal might have been all that was possible, given the political challenges – including a US president who shunned the talks and remains aligned with oil and coal, the increasing presence of rightwing populism, persistent fighting in multiple regions, unacceptable degrees of inequality, and global economic uncertainty.

"Major polluters – the oil and gas companies – were ultimately in the spotlight at these negotiations," notes one environmental advocate. "There is no turning back on that. The political space is accessible. Now we must transform 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 major disagreements in the only global process for confronting the climate crisis.

"Climate conferences are consensus-based, and in a period of global disagreements, unanimity is progressively challenging to reach," stated one senior UN official. "It would be dishonest to claim that this summit has delivered everything that is needed. The difference between where we are and what science demands remains alarmingly large."

If the world is to avoid the most severe impacts of climate breakdown, the international negotiations alone will fall far short.