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When dawn was breaking the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, negotiators remained confined in a enclosed conference room, oblivious whether it was day or night. For more than 12 hours in tense discussions, with scores ministers representing 17 groups of countries including the least developed nations to the richest economies.

Frustration mounted, the air thick as exhausted delegates faced up to the sobering reality: they were unlikely to achieve a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The latest global climate summit teetered on the brink of total collapse.

The major obstacle: Fossil fuels

Research has demonstrated for well over a century, the CO2 emissions produced by utilizing fossil fuels is heating up our planet to alarming levels.

Nevertheless, during nearly three decades of regular climate meetings, the crucial requirement to halt fossil fuel use has been referenced only once – in a decision made two years ago at the Dubai climate summit to "shift from fossil fuels". Officials from the Arab Group, Russia, and multiple other countries were determined this would not be repeated.

Growing momentum for change

At the same time, a expanding group of countries were equally determined that advancement on this issue was vitally needed. They had created a initiative that was attracting growing support and made it clear they were willing to dig in.

Developing countries strongly sought to move forward on securing economic resources to help them address the growing impacts of climate disasters.

Breaking point

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

The critical development happened through negotiations with Saudi Arabia. Near 6am, principal delegates separated from the main group to hold a closed-door meeting with the chief Saudi negotiator. They urged wording that would indirectly acknowledge the global commitment to "move beyond fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Surprising consensus

As opposed to explicitly mentioning fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the UAE consensus". Upon deliberation, the Saudi delegation surprisingly approved the wording.

Participants collapsed into relief. Cheers erupted. The deal was completed.

With what became known as the "Belém political package", the world took an incremental move towards the gradual elimination of fossil fuels – a uncertain, inadequate step that will minimally impact the climate's ongoing trajectory towards catastrophe. But nevertheless a notable change from absolute paralysis.

Important aspects of the agreement

• Complementing the indirect reference in the formal agreement, countries will begin work a framework to gradually eliminate 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 stay within the 1.5C limit was likewise deferred to next year
• Developing countries secured a threefold increase to $120bn of regular financial support to help them cope with 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 shift to the clean economy

Differing opinions

With global conditions teeters on the brink of climate "irreversible changes" that could eliminate habitats and force whole regions into crisis, the agreement was far from the "major breakthrough" needed.

"The summit provided some modest progress in the correct path, but considering the magnitude of the climate crisis, it has not met the occasion," stated one environmental analyst.

This flawed deal might have been all that was possible, given the international tensions – including a American leader who shunned the talks and remains aligned with oil and coal, the growing influence of conservative movements, ongoing conflicts in various areas, extreme measures of inequality, and global economic uncertainty.

"Major polluters – the energy conglomerates – were ultimately in the crosshairs at Cop30," comments one policy convener. "There is no turning back on that. The opportunity is open. Now we must turn it into a actual pathway to a protected environment."

Significant divisions revealed

While nations were able to celebrate the official adoption of the deal, Cop30 also highlighted major disagreements in the sole international mechanism for addressing the climate crisis.

"Climate conferences are unanimity-required, and in a era of international tensions, agreement is increasingly difficult to reach," observed one international diplomat. "We should not suggest that Cop30 has delivered everything that is needed. The disparity between our current position and what research requires remains dangerously wide."

When the world is to prevent the most severe impacts of climate collapse, the UN climate talks alone will not be nearly enough.