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As dawn was breaking the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, delegates remained stuck in a airless conference room, oblivious whether it was day or night. They had been 12 hours in tense discussions, with numerous ministers representing 17 groups of countries from the poorest nations to the wealthiest economies.

Tempers were short, the air heavy as exhausted delegates confronted the sobering reality: there would not be a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The international climate negotiations teetered on the brink of total collapse.

The central impasse: Fossil fuels

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

Nevertheless, during more than three decades of yearly climate meetings, the urgent need to stop fossil fuel use has been mentioned only once – in a decision made two years ago at the Dubai climate summit to "transition away from fossil fuels". Officials from the Arab Group, Russia, and several other countries were determined this would not be repeated.

Increasing pressure for change

Meanwhile, a increasing coalition of countries were just as committed that movement on this issue was crucially important. They had created a plan that was gathering increasing support and made it apparent they were prepared to stand their ground.

Developing countries desperately wanted to move forward on securing economic resources to help them cope with the growing impacts of extreme weather.

Critical moment

During the night of Saturday, some delegates were willing to withdraw and force a collapse. "It was on the edge for us," stated one government representative. "I considered to walk away."

The breakthrough came through discussions with Saudi Arabia. Shortly after 6am, principal delegates split from the main group to hold a confidential discussion with the head 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

Instead of explicitly namechecking fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the UAE consensus". After consideration, the Saudi delegation unexpectedly accepted the wording.

The room collapsed into relief. Celebrations began. The deal was finalized.

With what became known as the "Belém political package", the world took an incremental move towards the phaseout of fossil fuels – a hesitant, inadequate step that will barely interrupt the climate's steady march towards disaster. But nevertheless a notable change from absolute paralysis.

Major components of the agreement

• Complementing the indirect reference in the formal agreement, countries will start developing a plan to systematically reduce fossil fuels
• This will be primarily a voluntary initiative led by Brazil that will report back 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 obtained a significant expansion to $120bn of yearly funding to help them cope with the impacts of environmental crises
• This funding will not be delivered in full until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "fair adjustment program" to help people working in polluting businesses transition to the clean economy

Mixed reactions

As the world teeters on the brink of climate "tipping points" that could eliminate habitats and throw whole regions into crisis, the agreement was far from the "major breakthrough" needed.

"The summit provided some small advances in the right direction, but in light of the severity of the climate crisis, it has fallen short of the occasion," warned one environmental analyst.

This limited deal might have been all that was possible, given the political challenges – including a Washington administration who ignored the talks and remains aligned with oil and coal, the increasing presence of rightwing populism, 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 Cop30," notes one climate activist. "There is no turning back on that. The political space is accessible. Now we must transform it into a genuine solution to a safer world."

Significant divisions revealed

Even as nations were able to celebrate the official adoption of the deal, Cop30 also exposed significant divisions in the primary worldwide framework for confronting the climate crisis.

"UN negotiations are consensus-based, and in a time of geopolitical divides, agreement is increasingly difficult to reach," commented one senior UN official. "I cannot pretend that this summit has achieved complete success that is needed. The disparity between present circumstances and what science demands remains dangerously wide."

If the world is to avert the gravest consequences of climate breakdown, the UN climate talks alone will fall far short.