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As dawn was breaking the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, negotiators remained trapped in a airless conference room, unaware whether it was day or night. They had been 12 hours in strained discussions, with dozens ministers representing multiple blocs of countries including the most vulnerable nations to the most developed economies.

Frustration mounted, the air heavy as weary delegates faced up to the sobering reality: they would not reach a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The international climate negotiations hovered near the brink of complete breakdown.

The major obstacle: Fossil fuels

Scientific evidence has shown for nearly a century, the carbon dioxide produced by consuming fossil fuels is warming our planet to alarming levels.

Yet, during more than three decades of regular climate meetings, the essential necessity to cease fossil fuel use has been referenced only once – in a agreement made two years ago at the Dubai climate summit to "transition away from fossil fuels". Officials from the Arab Group, Russia, and multiple other countries were adamant this would not be repeated.

Mounting support for change

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

Less wealthy nations strongly sought to move forward on securing financial assistance to help them manage the increasingly severe impacts of climate disasters.

Turning point

By the early hours of Saturday, some delegates were prepared to walk out and trigger failure. "It was on the edge for us," commented one national delegate. "I considered to walk away."

The breakthrough occurred through negotiations with Saudi Arabia. Around 6am, senior representatives split from the main group to hold a private conversation with the lead Saudi negotiator. They pressed language that would subtly reference the global commitment to "transition away 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". Upon deliberation, the Saudi delegation surprisingly approved the wording.

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

With what became known as the "Belém political package", the world took another small step towards the gradual elimination of fossil fuels – a hesitant, inadequate step that will scarcely affect the climate's steady march towards disaster. But nevertheless a notable change from total inaction.

Major components of the agreement

• Alongside the oblique commitment in the legally agreed text, countries will commence creating a plan to gradually eliminate fossil fuels
• This will be mostly a optional undertaking 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 similarly postponed to next year
• Developing countries achieved a threefold increase to $120bn of regular financial support to help them manage the impacts of climate disasters
• This sum will not be completely provided until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "just transition mechanism" to help people working in polluting businesses move toward the renewable industry

Differing opinions

While our planet teeters on the brink of climate "tipping points" that could eliminate habitats and plunge whole regions into crisis, the agreement was not the "significant advancement" needed.

"The summit provided some baby steps in the right direction, but in light of the severity of the climate crisis, it has failed to rise to the occasion," warned one environmental analyst.

This limited deal might have been the best attainable, given the international tensions – including a US president who ignored the talks and remains aligned with oil and coal, the rising tide of conservative movements, persistent fighting in different locations, intolerable levels of inequality, and global economic uncertainty.

"Major polluters – the fossil fuel giants – were at last in the focus at the climate summit," comments one climate activist. "We have crossed a threshold on that. The political space is available. Now we must convert it to a genuine solution to a more secure planet."

Major disagreements revealed

Even as nations were able to celebrate the official adoption of the deal, Cop30 also highlighted significant divisions in the only global process for confronting the climate crisis.

"UN negotiations are agreement-dependent, and in a era of geopolitical divides, consensus is increasingly difficult to reach," commented one senior UN official. "We should not suggest that these talks has delivered everything that is needed. The gap between our current position and what science demands remains alarmingly large."

Should the world is to avoid the most severe impacts of climate crisis, the UN climate talks alone will fall far short.