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As dawn was breaking the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, delegates remained stuck in a windowless conference room, oblivious whether it was day or night. They had been 12 hours in strained discussions, with dozens ministers representing various coalitions of countries ranging from the least developed nations to the most developed economies.

Patience wore thin, the air heavy as sweaty delegates acknowledged the harsh reality: they would not reach a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The 30th UN climate conference faced the brink of complete breakdown.

The sticking point: Fossil fuels

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

Yet, during over three decades of regular climate meetings, the essential necessity to stop fossil fuel use has been addressed only once – in a resolution made two years ago at Cop28 to "shift from fossil fuels". Representatives from the Arab Group, Russia, and multiple other countries were resolved this would not occur another time.

Mounting support for change

Meanwhile, a increasing coalition of countries were equally determined that advancement on this issue was crucially important. They had formulated a proposal that was attracting growing support and made it clear they were prepared to dig in.

Less wealthy nations urgently needed to move forward on securing funding support to help them cope with the increasingly severe impacts of climate disasters.

Breaking point

In the pre-dawn period of Saturday, some delegates were ready to withdraw and trigger failure. "The situation was precarious for us," stated one energy minister. "I considered to walk away."

The critical development happened through discussions with Saudi Arabia. Around 6am, principal delegates separated from the main group to hold a private conversation with the head Saudi negotiator. They encouraged language that would indirectly acknowledge the global commitment to "transition away from fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Unanticipated resolution

As opposed to explicitly referencing fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the UAE consensus". Following reflection, the Saudi delegation unforeseeably agreed to the wording.

Delegates showed visible relief. Celebrations began. The settlement was finalized.

With what became known as the "Belém political package", the world took a modest advance towards the systematic reduction of fossil fuels – a faltering, inadequate step that will scarcely affect the climate's continued progression towards crisis. But nevertheless a significant departure from complete stagnation.

Major components of the agreement

• Alongside the subtle acknowledgment in the legally agreed text, countries will start developing a plan to gradually eliminate fossil fuels
• This will be mostly a non-binding program led by Brazil that will provide updates 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 achieved a threefold increase to $120bn of yearly funding to help them manage the impacts of environmental crises
• This amount will not be fully available until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "fair adjustment program" to help people working in polluting businesses move toward the renewable industry

Differing opinions

While our planet hovers near the brink of climate "irreversible changes" that could devastate environments and throw whole regions into chaos, the agreement was not the "major breakthrough" needed.

"Negotiators delivered some baby steps in the correct path, but considering 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 US president who shunned the talks and remains wedded to oil and coal, the increasing presence of conservative movements, continuing wars in multiple regions, intolerable levels of inequality, and global economic instability.

"The climate arsonists – the oil and gas companies – were ultimately in the crosshairs at the climate summit," comments one policy convener. "This represents progress on that. The political space is open. Now we must transform it into a actual pathway to a more secure planet."

Deep fissures revealed

Although nations were able to applaud the formal approval of the deal, Cop30 also highlighted deep fissures in the only global process for addressing the climate crisis.

"UN negotiations are agreement-dependent, and in a time of international tensions, consensus is progressively challenging to reach," commented one global leader. "We should not suggest that these talks has achieved complete success that is needed. The difference between present circumstances and what science demands remains alarmingly large."

Should the world is to avert the most severe impacts of climate crisis, the international negotiations alone will not be nearly enough.