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While dawn was breaking the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, representatives remained trapped in a airless conference room, unaware whether it was day or night. For more than 12 hours in difficult discussions, with numerous ministers representing multiple blocs of countries including the least developed nations to the most developed economies.

Frustration mounted, the air thick as exhausted delegates faced up to the harsh reality: there would not be a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The 30th UN climate conference hovered near the brink of complete breakdown.

The central impasse: Fossil fuels

Scientific evidence has shown for well over a century, the greenhouse gases produced by utilizing fossil fuels is heating up our planet to alarming levels.

However, during more than three decades of regular climate meetings, the essential necessity to cease fossil fuel use has been mentioned only once – in a resolution made two years ago at the Dubai climate summit to "move beyond fossil fuels". Delegates from the Gulf states, Russia, and a few other countries were resolved this would not occur another time.

Increasing pressure for change

At the same time, a increasing coalition of countries were equally determined that advancement on this issue was crucially important. They had formulated a plan that was gathering expanding support and made it evident they were ready to dig in.

Developing countries strongly sought to move forward on securing financial assistance to help them cope with the growing impacts of environmental crises.

Turning point

By the early hours of Saturday, some delegates were prepared to walk out and force a collapse. "We were close for us," stated one energy minister. "I considered to walk away."

The critical development came through discussions with Saudi Arabia. Around 6am, principal delegates split from the main group to hold a confidential discussion with the lead Saudi negotiator. They urged wording that would indirectly acknowledge the global commitment to "transition away from fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Surprising consensus

Rather than explicitly referencing fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the previous commitment". Upon deliberation, the Saudi delegation unforeseeably accepted the wording.

Delegates collapsed into relief. Celebrations began. The deal was done.

With what became known as the "Belém political package", the world took another small step towards the phaseout of fossil fuels – a uncertain, insufficient step that will scarcely affect the climate's continued progression towards disaster. But nevertheless a notable change from complete stagnation.

Key elements of the agreement

• Alongside the subtle acknowledgment in the formal agreement, countries will start developing a roadmap to systematically reduce fossil fuels
• This will be primarily a optional undertaking 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 similarly postponed 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 "just transition mechanism" to help people working in fossil fuel sectors move toward the renewable industry

Mixed reactions

With global conditions hovers near 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 small advances in the right direction, but in light of the scale of the climate crisis, it has fallen short of the occasion," warned one policy director.

This limited deal might have been all that was possible, given the political challenges – including a US president who avoided the talks and remains wedded to oil and coal, the increasing presence of rightwing populism, ongoing conflicts in various areas, intolerable levels of inequality, and global economic volatility.

"Fossil fuel corporations – the oil and gas companies – were ultimately in the spotlight at the climate summit," notes one environmental advocate. "This represents progress on that. The opportunity is open. Now we must turn it into a real fire escape to a more secure planet."

Deep fissures revealed

While nations were able to applaud the gavelling through of the deal, Cop30 also exposed major disagreements in the primary worldwide framework for tackling the climate crisis.

"Climate conferences are unanimity-required, and in a time of global disagreements, unanimity is progressively challenging to reach," stated one global leader. "It would be dishonest to claim that these talks has provided all that is needed. The difference between our current position and what research requires remains alarmingly large."

If the world is to avoid the worst ravages of climate collapse, the international negotiations alone will prove insufficient.