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While dawn was breaking the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, delegates remained trapped in a enclosed conference room, oblivious whether it was day or night. Having spent 12 hours in strained discussions, with numerous ministers representing multiple blocs of countries including the most vulnerable nations to the richest economies.

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

The sticking point: Fossil fuels

As science has told us for well over a century, the carbon dioxide produced by burning fossil fuels is increasing temperatures on our planet to critical levels.

Nevertheless, during nearly three decades of annual climate meetings, the essential necessity to halt fossil fuel use has been addressed only once – in a decision made two years ago at Cop28 to "shift from fossil fuels". Delegates from the Arab Group, Russia, and several other countries were adamant this would not happen again.

Increasing pressure for change

At the same time, a increasing coalition of countries were just as committed that progress on this issue was vitally needed. They had developed a plan that was attracting increasing support and made it evident they were willing to dig in.

Developing countries strongly sought to make progress on securing economic resources to help them address the growing impacts of environmental crises.

Breaking point

By the early hours of Saturday, some delegates were ready to withdraw and trigger failure. "The situation was precarious for us," remarked one national delegate. "I considered to walk away."

The breakthrough came through talks with Saudi Arabia. Shortly after 6am, key negotiators left the main group to hold a closed-door meeting with the lead Saudi negotiator. They urged language that would obliquely recognise the global commitment to "shift from fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Unexpected agreement

Rather than explicitly referencing fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the previous commitment". After consideration, the Saudi delegation unforeseeably agreed to the wording.

The room showed visible relief. Celebrations began. The deal was finalized.

With what became known as the "Belém political package", the world took an incremental move towards the systematic reduction of fossil fuels – a hesitant, limited step that will barely interrupt the climate's continued progression towards disaster. But nevertheless a important shift from complete stagnation.

Important aspects of the agreement

• Complementing the subtle acknowledgment in the formal agreement, countries will begin work a plan to phase out fossil fuels
• This will be largely a non-binding program led by Brazil that will deliver findings next year
• Addressing the necessary cuts in greenhouse gas emissions to not exceed the 1.5C limit was also put off to next year
• Developing countries secured a threefold increase to $120bn of yearly funding to help them cope with the impacts of environmental crises
• This amount will not be delivered in full until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "fair adjustment program" to help people working in high-carbon industries transition to the clean economy

Mixed reactions

With global conditions approaches the brink of climate "critical thresholds" that could destroy ecosystems and plunge whole regions into crisis, the agreement was insufficient as the "giant leap" needed.

"Negotiators delivered some small advances in the proper course, but given the magnitude of the climate crisis, it has failed to rise to the occasion," cautioned one policy director.

This imperfect deal might have been the maximum achievable, given the geopolitical headwinds – including a American leader who ignored the talks and remains committed to oil and coal, the rising tide of nationalist politics, continuing wars in different locations, unacceptable degrees of inequality, and global economic instability.

"Major polluters – the fossil fuel giants – were finally in the focus at Cop30," says one policy convener. "We have crossed a threshold on that. The platform is open. Now we must transform it into a actual pathway to a protected environment."

Deep fissures revealed

Even as nations were able to celebrate the formal approval of the deal, Cop30 also revealed significant divisions in the primary worldwide framework for confronting the climate crisis.

"Climate conferences are unanimity-required, and in a period of global disagreements, consensus is increasingly difficult to reach," observed 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 research requires remains alarmingly large."

Should the world is to prevent the worst ravages of climate collapse, the UN climate talks alone will fall far short.