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When dawn crept over the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, representatives remained confined in a windowless conference room, unaware whether it was day or night. Having spent 12 hours in strained discussions, with scores ministers representing various coalitions of countries from the least developed nations to the wealthiest economies.

Frustration mounted, the air thick as weary delegates acknowledged the grim 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

Scientific evidence has shown for nearly a century, the greenhouse gases produced by utilizing fossil fuels is increasing temperatures on our planet to dangerous levels.

However, during nearly three decades of annual climate meetings, the essential necessity to stop fossil fuel use has been mentioned only once – in a agreement made two years ago at previous UN climate talks to "shift from fossil fuels". Delegates from the Gulf states, Russia, and several other countries were determined this would not be repeated.

Growing momentum for change

Meanwhile, a growing number of countries were similarly resolved that advancement on this issue was crucially important. They had developed a plan that was earning expanding support and made it evident they were ready to stand their ground.

Less wealthy nations desperately wanted to advance on securing economic resources to help them manage the increasingly severe impacts of climate disasters.

Critical moment

In the pre-dawn period of Saturday, some delegates were prepared to leave and cause breakdown. "We were close for us," remarked one government representative. "I was prepared to walk away."

The breakthrough came through discussions with Saudi Arabia. Around 6am, key negotiators split from the main group to hold a private conversation with the chief Saudi negotiator. They encouraged wording that would subtly reference the global commitment to "shift from fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Unexpected agreement

Rather than explicitly namechecking fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the Dubai agreement". Following reflection, the Saudi delegation surprisingly approved the wording.

The room collapsed into relief. Cheers erupted. The agreement was finalized.

With what became known as the "Belém political package", the world took a modest advance towards the phaseout of fossil fuels – a hesitant, inadequate step that will scarcely affect the climate's ongoing trajectory towards disaster. But nevertheless a significant departure from complete stagnation.

Key elements of the agreement

• Complementing the oblique commitment in the formal agreement, countries will start developing a framework to phase out fossil fuels
• This will be primarily a non-binding program led by Brazil that will deliver findings next year
• Addressing the necessary cuts in greenhouse gas emissions to stay within the 1.5C limit was likewise deferred to next year
• Developing countries obtained a tripling to $120bn of yearly funding to help them adapt to the impacts of extreme weather
• This amount will not be fully available until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "just transition mechanism" to help people working in polluting businesses move toward the clean economy

Varied responses

As the world hovers near the brink of climate "critical thresholds" that could devastate environments and throw whole regions into disorder, the agreement was far from the "significant advancement" needed.

"Negotiators delivered some modest progress in the correct path, but considering the magnitude of the climate crisis, it has fallen short of the occasion," cautioned one environmental analyst.

This imperfect deal might have been the maximum achievable, given the geopolitical headwinds – including a Washington administration who ignored the talks and remains aligned with oil and coal, the rising tide of nationalist politics, persistent fighting in multiple regions, extreme measures of inequality, and global economic instability.

"Major polluters – the fossil fuel giants – were at last in the spotlight at Cop30," comments one environmental advocate. "There is no turning back on that. The political space is accessible. Now we must turn it into a genuine solution to a protected environment."

Deep fissures revealed

While nations were able to applaud the gavelling through of the deal, Cop30 also exposed deep fissures in the primary worldwide framework for tackling the climate crisis.

"UN negotiations are consensus-based, and in a time of international tensions, consensus is ever harder to reach," observed one global leader. "I cannot pretend that Cop30 has achieved complete success that is needed. The difference between our current position and what evidence necessitates remains alarmingly large."

If the world is to prevent the worst ravages of climate breakdown, the global discussions alone will prove insufficient.