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When dawn crept over the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, negotiators remained stuck in a enclosed conference room, uncertain whether it was day or night. Having spent 12 hours in tense discussions, with numerous ministers representing 17 groups of countries from the most vulnerable nations to the wealthiest economies.

Tempers were short, the air heavy as weary delegates faced up to the sobering reality: there would not be a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The latest global climate summit hovered near the brink of abject failure.

The central impasse: Fossil fuels

As science has told us for more than a century, the carbon dioxide produced by consuming fossil fuels is warming our planet to dangerous levels.

Nevertheless, during over three decades of yearly climate meetings, the crucial requirement to cease fossil fuel use has been mentioned only once – in a decision made two years ago at the Dubai climate summit to "shift from fossil fuels". Delegates from the Gulf states, Russia, and multiple other countries were adamant this would not happen again.

Mounting support for change

Meanwhile, a increasing coalition of countries were equally determined that progress on this issue was crucially important. They had formulated a plan that was earning increasing support and made it apparent they were willing to hold firm.

Developing countries urgently needed to advance on securing economic resources to help them cope with the increasingly severe impacts of environmental crises.

Turning point

By the early hours of Saturday, some delegates were willing to withdraw and trigger failure. "It was on the edge for us," commented one government representative. "I considered to walk away."

The pivotal moment came through talks with Saudi Arabia. Shortly after 6am, principal delegates left the main group to hold a closed-door meeting with the lead Saudi negotiator. They urged wording that would indirectly acknowledge 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 UAE consensus". Following reflection, the Saudi delegation unforeseeably approved the wording.

Delegates expressed relief. Cheers erupted. The agreement was done.

With what became known as the "Belém political package", the world took an incremental move towards the phaseout of fossil fuels – a hesitant, insufficient step that will barely interrupt the climate's continued progression towards catastrophe. But nevertheless a important shift from complete stagnation.

Key elements of the agreement

• Complementing the subtle acknowledgment in the formal agreement, countries will begin work a plan to systematically reduce fossil fuels
• This will be largely a voluntary initiative led by Brazil that will report back next year
• Addressing the essential decreases in greenhouse gas emissions to remain below the 1.5C limit was likewise deferred to next year
• Developing countries secured a significant expansion to $120bn of regular financial support to help them manage the impacts of climate disasters
• This amount will not be fully available until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "fair adjustment program" to help people working in polluting businesses shift to the sustainable sector

Differing opinions

While our planet teeters on the brink of climate "tipping points" that could devastate environments and throw whole regions into crisis, the agreement was not the "giant leap" needed.

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

This limited deal might have been all that was possible, given the political challenges – including a American leader who shunned the talks and remains wedded to oil and coal, the increasing presence of conservative movements, ongoing conflicts in multiple regions, intolerable levels of inequality, and global economic volatility.

"Major polluters – the fossil fuel giants – were finally in the crosshairs at these negotiations," says one policy convener. "This represents progress on that. The opportunity is available. Now we must transform it into a genuine solution to a safer world."

Deep fissures revealed

Although nations were able to welcome the formal approval of the deal, Cop30 also exposed significant divisions in the primary worldwide framework for tackling the climate crisis.

"Climate conferences are unanimity-required, and in a era of geopolitical divides, consensus is progressively challenging to reach," stated one global leader. "I cannot pretend that this summit has delivered everything that is needed. The gap between present circumstances and what research requires remains dangerously wide."

When the world is to avert the gravest consequences of climate crisis, the UN climate talks alone will prove insufficient.