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As dawn illuminated the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, delegates remained stuck in a enclosed conference room, oblivious whether it was day or night. For more than 12 hours in difficult discussions, with scores ministers representing multiple blocs of countries including the poorest nations to the richest economies.

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

The sticking point: Fossil fuels

As science has told us for well over a century, the greenhouse gases produced by consuming fossil fuels is warming our planet to alarming levels.

However, during more than three decades of annual climate meetings, the essential necessity to stop fossil fuel use has been referenced only once – in a agreement made two years ago at Cop28 to "transition away from fossil fuels". Representatives from the Middle Eastern nations, Russia, and several other countries were determined this would not happen again.

Increasing pressure for change

Meanwhile, a growing number of countries were equally determined that progress on this issue was vitally needed. They had formulated a plan that was earning increasing support and made it apparent they were ready to stand their ground.

Emerging economies desperately wanted to advance on securing financial assistance to help them manage the already disastrous impacts of environmental crises.

Breaking point

In the pre-dawn period of Saturday, some delegates were ready to walk out and trigger failure. "It was on the edge for us," stated one national delegate. "I was ready to walk away."

The critical development came through talks with Saudi Arabia. Shortly after 6am, key negotiators separated from the main group to hold a private conversation with the lead Saudi negotiator. They pressed text that would obliquely recognise the global commitment to "shift from fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Unexpected agreement

Instead of explicitly namechecking fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the previous commitment". After consideration, the Saudi delegation unexpectedly agreed to the wording.

Delegates showed visible relief. Cheers erupted. The deal was done.

With what became known as the "Belém political package", the world took a modest advance towards the gradual elimination of fossil fuels – a uncertain, limited step that will scarcely affect the climate's steady march towards catastrophe. But nevertheless a significant departure from complete stagnation.

Important aspects of the agreement

• In addition to the indirect reference in the formal agreement, countries will commence creating a plan to phase out fossil fuels
• This will be mostly a non-binding program led by Brazil that will deliver findings next year
• Addressing the essential decreases in greenhouse gas emissions to not exceed the 1.5C limit was similarly postponed to next year
• Developing countries obtained a threefold increase to $120bn of annual finance to help them adapt to the impacts of climate disasters
• This sum will not be fully available until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "just transition mechanism" to help people working in high-carbon industries move toward the renewable industry

Varied responses

While our planet approaches the brink of climate "irreversible changes" that could eliminate habitats and throw whole regions into chaos, the agreement was far from the "giant leap" needed.

"The summit provided some baby steps in the right direction, but in light of the magnitude of the climate crisis, it has fallen short of the occasion," cautioned one policy director.

This flawed 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 growing influence of rightwing populism, continuing wars in different locations, unacceptable degrees of inequality, and global economic instability.

"The climate arsonists – the fossil fuel giants – were at last in the spotlight at the climate summit," notes one policy convener. "We have crossed a threshold on that. The opportunity is open. Now we must turn it into a real fire escape to a more secure planet."

Deep fissures revealed

Even as nations were able to applaud the formal approval of the deal, Cop30 also revealed significant divisions in the sole international mechanism for confronting the climate crisis.

"Climate conferences are unanimity-required, and in a period of geopolitical divides, agreement is ever harder to reach," stated one senior UN official. "We should not suggest that these talks has delivered everything that is needed. The disparity between present circumstances and what evidence necessitates remains alarmingly large."

When the world is to prevent the worst ravages of climate crisis, the international negotiations alone will prove insufficient.