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While dawn was breaking the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, delegates remained confined in a airless conference room, oblivious whether it was day or night. They had been 12 hours in strained discussions, with scores ministers representing multiple blocs of countries including the poorest nations to the wealthiest economies.

Patience wore thin, the air stifling as sweaty delegates faced up to the sobering reality: they would not reach a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The latest global climate summit faced the brink of complete breakdown.

The central impasse: Fossil fuels

Scientific evidence has shown for nearly a century, the greenhouse gases produced by consuming fossil fuels is warming our planet to critical levels.

Nevertheless, during over three decades of annual climate meetings, the crucial requirement to stop fossil fuel use has been addressed only once – in a decision made two years ago at Cop28 to "move beyond fossil fuels". Officials from the Gulf states, Russia, and several other countries were determined this would not happen again.

Mounting support for change

Meanwhile, a expanding group of countries were just as committed that progress on this issue was vitally needed. They had created a initiative that was earning increasing support and made it clear they were prepared to hold firm.

Less wealthy nations desperately wanted to advance on securing economic resources to help them cope with the increasingly severe impacts of extreme weather.

Critical moment

During the night of Saturday, some delegates were willing to leave and force a collapse. "The situation was precarious for us," commented one government representative. "I was ready to walk away."

The breakthrough happened through talks with Saudi Arabia. Around 6am, senior representatives split from the main group to hold a private conversation with the head Saudi negotiator. They urged text that would indirectly acknowledge the global commitment to "shift from fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Surprising consensus

As opposed to explicitly referencing fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the previous commitment". After consideration, the Saudi delegation surprisingly agreed to the wording.

Participants expressed relief. Cheers erupted. The settlement was finalized.

With what became known as the "Belém political package", the world took a modest advance towards the phaseout of fossil fuels – a uncertain, insufficient step that will scarcely affect the climate's steady march towards catastrophe. But nevertheless a significant departure from complete stagnation.

Key elements of the agreement

• Alongside the indirect reference in the legally agreed text, countries will start developing a plan to gradually eliminate fossil fuels
• This will be mostly a voluntary initiative led by Brazil that will deliver findings next year
• Addressing the necessary cuts in greenhouse gas emissions to remain below the 1.5C limit was likewise deferred to next year
• Developing countries achieved a significant expansion to $120bn of yearly funding to help them manage the impacts of extreme weather
• This amount will not be delivered in full until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "equitable change process" to help people working in high-carbon industries transition to the clean economy

Differing opinions

With global conditions hovers near the brink of climate "irreversible changes" that could destroy ecosystems and force whole regions into disorder, the agreement was insufficient as the "significant advancement" needed.

"Cop30 gave us some baby steps in the right direction, but in light of the scale of the climate crisis, it has not met the occasion," cautioned one climate expert.

This limited deal might have been the best attainable, given the international tensions – including a Washington administration who avoided the talks and remains committed to oil and coal, the rising tide of conservative movements, continuing wars in different locations, extreme measures of inequality, and global economic uncertainty.

"The climate arsonists – the energy conglomerates – were finally in the focus at these negotiations," says one environmental advocate. "This represents progress on that. The platform is available. Now we must convert it to a real fire escape to a more secure planet."

Deep fissures revealed

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

"International summits are unanimity-required, and in a time of geopolitical divides, agreement is ever harder to reach," stated one international diplomat. "I cannot pretend that this summit has achieved complete success that is needed. The gap between present circumstances and what research requires remains concerningly substantial."

When the world is to prevent the worst ravages of climate breakdown, the international negotiations alone will not be nearly enough.