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

Tempers were short, the air thick as sweaty delegates faced up to the harsh reality: there would not be a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The international climate negotiations faced the brink of total collapse.

The sticking point: Fossil fuels

Research has demonstrated for nearly a century, the greenhouse gases produced by utilizing fossil fuels is heating up our planet to critical levels.

Yet, during more than three decades of regular climate meetings, the urgent need to cease fossil fuel use has been referenced only once – in a agreement made two years ago at Cop28 to "shift from fossil fuels". Officials from the Middle Eastern nations, Russia, and multiple other countries were determined this would not occur another time.

Growing momentum for change

Simultaneously, a expanding group of countries were similarly resolved that movement on this issue was urgently necessary. They had created a initiative that was attracting expanding support and made it apparent they were prepared to dig in.

Emerging economies strongly sought to advance on securing financial assistance to help them address the increasingly severe impacts of environmental crises.

Critical moment

By the early hours of Saturday, some delegates were ready to walk out and force a collapse. "It was on the edge for us," commented one government representative. "I was ready to walk away."

The critical development occurred through negotiations with Saudi Arabia. Near 6am, key negotiators separated from the main group to hold a confidential discussion with the head Saudi negotiator. They pressed wording that would obliquely recognise the global commitment to "move beyond fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Unanticipated resolution

Instead of explicitly mentioning fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the Dubai agreement". Upon deliberation, the Saudi delegation unexpectedly agreed to the wording.

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

With what became known as the "Belém political package", the world took another small step towards the gradual elimination of fossil fuels – a uncertain, limited step that will barely interrupt the climate's ongoing trajectory towards disaster. But nevertheless a notable change from complete stagnation.

Major components of the agreement

• Complementing the subtle acknowledgment in the legally agreed text, countries will begin work a framework to phase out 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 stay within the 1.5C limit was likewise deferred to next year
• Developing countries secured a threefold increase to $120bn of annual finance to help them adapt to the impacts of environmental crises
• This funding will not be delivered in full until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "just transition mechanism" to help people working in fossil fuel sectors move toward the clean economy

Mixed reactions

As the world teeters on the brink of climate "critical thresholds" that could destroy ecosystems and force whole regions into chaos, the agreement was insufficient as the "giant leap" needed.

"The summit provided some small advances in the proper course, but considering the scale of the climate crisis, it has fallen short of the occasion," warned one policy director.

This flawed deal might have been all that was possible, given the geopolitical headwinds – including a Washington administration who ignored the talks and remains wedded to oil and coal, the growing influence of rightwing populism, ongoing conflicts in various areas, unacceptable degrees of inequality, and global economic uncertainty.

"The climate arsonists – the energy conglomerates – were ultimately in the focus at the climate summit," says one environmental advocate. "There is no turning back on that. The opportunity is accessible. Now we must turn it into a genuine solution to a protected environment."

Major disagreements revealed

Although nations were able to celebrate the gavelling through of the deal, Cop30 also highlighted significant divisions in the only global process for tackling the climate crisis.

"International summits are consensus-based, and in a period of international tensions, agreement is ever harder to reach," stated one international diplomat. "We should not suggest that this summit has delivered everything that is needed. The gap between our current position and what science demands remains dangerously wide."

Should the world is to prevent the gravest consequences of climate breakdown, the global discussions alone will fall far short.