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When dawn crept over the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, negotiators remained trapped in a enclosed conference room, uncertain whether it was day or night. Having spent 12 hours in difficult discussions, with dozens ministers representing multiple blocs of countries including the poorest nations to the wealthiest economies.

Tempers were short, the air thick as exhausted delegates faced up to the harsh reality: they were unlikely to achieve a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The international climate negotiations teetered on the brink of total collapse.

The sticking point: Fossil fuels

Scientific evidence has shown for nearly a century, the CO2 emissions produced by consuming fossil fuels is heating up our planet to dangerous levels.

Yet, during more than three decades of regular climate meetings, the urgent need to stop fossil fuel use has been mentioned only once – in a decision made two years ago at Cop28 to "shift from fossil fuels". Representatives from the Gulf states, Russia, and multiple other countries were determined this would not be repeated.

Growing momentum for change

Meanwhile, a expanding group of countries were just as committed that movement on this issue was vitally needed. They had developed a plan that was earning growing support and made it apparent they were willing to dig in.

Developing countries strongly sought to make progress on securing financial assistance to help them manage the increasingly severe impacts of environmental crises.

Turning point

By the early hours of Saturday, some delegates were prepared to leave and force a collapse. "The situation was precarious for us," remarked one government representative. "I was ready to walk away."

The breakthrough occurred through discussions with Saudi Arabia. Around 6am, key negotiators separated from the main group to hold a private conversation with the head Saudi negotiator. They pressed language that would subtly reference the global commitment to "move beyond fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Unanticipated resolution

Rather than explicitly mentioning fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the Dubai agreement". Upon deliberation, the Saudi delegation unforeseeably accepted the wording.

The room collapsed into relief. Celebrations began. The settlement was done.

With what became known as the "Belém political package", the world took an incremental move towards the gradual elimination of fossil fuels – a faltering, insufficient step that will scarcely affect the climate's ongoing trajectory towards crisis. But nevertheless a significant departure from complete stagnation.

Major components of the agreement

• In addition to the oblique commitment in the formal agreement, countries will commence creating a plan to systematically reduce fossil fuels
• This will be largely a optional undertaking 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 likewise deferred to next year
• Developing countries obtained a significant expansion to $120bn of yearly funding to help them manage the impacts of climate disasters
• This funding will not be delivered in full until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "equitable change process" to help people working in fossil fuel sectors move toward the clean economy

Mixed reactions

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

"The summit provided some modest progress in the proper course, but considering the scale of the climate crisis, it has failed to rise to the occasion," stated one environmental analyst.

This flawed deal might have been the maximum achievable, given the international tensions – including a US president who shunned the talks and remains aligned with oil and coal, the growing influence of nationalist politics, continuing wars in various areas, intolerable levels of inequality, and global economic instability.

"Major polluters – the energy conglomerates – were at last in the spotlight at the climate summit," says one climate activist. "We have crossed a threshold on that. The opportunity is open. Now we must transform it into a real fire escape to a safer world."

Deep fissures revealed

While nations were able to welcome the gavelling through of the deal, Cop30 also revealed major disagreements in the sole international mechanism for tackling the climate crisis.

"UN negotiations are agreement-dependent, and in a time of global disagreements, consensus is increasingly difficult to reach," stated one global leader. "It would be dishonest to claim that Cop30 has delivered everything that is needed. The difference between present circumstances and what science demands remains concerningly substantial."

When the world is to avert the gravest consequences of climate collapse, the global discussions alone will prove insufficient.