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As dawn crept over the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, representatives remained confined in a enclosed conference room, oblivious whether it was day or night. They had been 12 hours in tense discussions, with dozens ministers representing multiple blocs of countries ranging from the poorest nations to the richest economies.

Tempers were short, the air heavy as exhausted delegates confronted the harsh reality: they were unlikely to achieve a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The 30th UN climate conference teetered on the brink of total collapse.

The sticking point: Fossil fuels

As science has told us for well over a century, the CO2 emissions produced by utilizing fossil fuels is heating up our planet to critical levels.

Yet, during nearly three decades of yearly climate meetings, the essential necessity to stop fossil fuel use has been addressed only once – in a decision made two years ago at previous UN climate talks to "transition away from fossil fuels". Officials from the Middle Eastern nations, Russia, and several other countries were determined this would not happen again.

Mounting support for change

At the same time, a growing number of countries were equally determined that movement on this issue was vitally needed. They had created a plan that was attracting growing support and made it apparent they were ready to hold firm.

Emerging economies urgently needed to make progress on securing funding support to help them manage the increasingly severe impacts of environmental crises.

Breaking point

In the pre-dawn period of Saturday, some delegates were ready to leave and trigger failure. "We were close for us," stated one national delegate. "I was prepared to walk away."

The pivotal moment occurred through negotiations with Saudi Arabia. Around 6am, senior representatives separated from the main group to hold a closed-door meeting with the chief Saudi negotiator. They urged text that would indirectly acknowledge the global commitment to "move beyond fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Unexpected agreement

Rather than explicitly namechecking fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the UAE consensus". Upon deliberation, the Saudi delegation surprisingly accepted the wording.

Participants expressed relief. Celebrations began. The agreement was finalized.

With what became known as the "Belém political package", the world took another small step towards the phaseout of fossil fuels – a hesitant, limited step that will barely interrupt the climate's continued progression towards catastrophe. But nevertheless a notable change from absolute paralysis.

Key elements of the agreement

• Alongside the indirect reference in the official document, countries will begin work a roadmap to gradually eliminate fossil fuels
• This will be mostly a voluntary initiative led by Brazil that will provide updates 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 obtained a tripling to $120bn of regular financial support to help them adapt to 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 polluting businesses move toward the clean economy

Mixed reactions

While our planet teeters on the brink of climate "irreversible changes" that could devastate environments and plunge whole regions into chaos, the agreement was insufficient as the "significant advancement" needed.

"Cop30 gave us some baby steps in the correct path, but in light of the magnitude of the climate crisis, it has fallen short of the occasion," cautioned one climate expert.

This limited deal might have been the maximum achievable, given the political challenges – including a US president who avoided the talks and remains committed to oil and coal, the increasing presence of nationalist politics, continuing wars in different locations, unacceptable degrees of inequality, and global economic uncertainty.

"The climate arsonists – the energy conglomerates – were at last in the focus at these negotiations," comments one environmental advocate. "We have crossed a threshold on that. The platform is available. Now we must transform it into a genuine solution to a more secure planet."

Major disagreements revealed

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

"UN negotiations are consensus-based, and in a period of geopolitical divides, agreement is ever harder to reach," observed one international diplomat. "We should not suggest that this summit has achieved complete success that is needed. The difference between our current position and what research requires remains alarmingly large."

When the world is to avoid the worst ravages of climate crisis, the global discussions alone will fall far short.