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When dawn illuminated the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, negotiators remained trapped in a windowless conference room, uncertain whether it was day or night. For more than 12 hours in strained discussions, with scores ministers representing various coalitions of countries from the least developed nations to the richest economies.

Tempers were short, the air heavy as weary delegates faced up to the sobering reality: there would not be a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The 30th UN climate conference faced the brink of total collapse.

The central impasse: Fossil fuels

Scientific evidence has shown for more than a century, the carbon dioxide produced by utilizing fossil fuels is warming our planet to dangerous levels.

However, during more than three decades of annual climate meetings, the urgent need to halt fossil fuel use has been addressed only once – in a resolution made two years ago at the Dubai climate summit to "shift from fossil fuels". Representatives from the Arab Group, Russia, and several other countries were resolved this would not occur another time.

Increasing pressure for change

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

Less wealthy nations desperately wanted to make progress on securing funding support to help them manage the already disastrous impacts of extreme weather.

Turning point

During the night of Saturday, some delegates were prepared to leave and cause breakdown. "It was on the edge for us," stated one government representative. "I was ready to walk away."

The breakthrough happened through negotiations with Saudi Arabia. Around 6am, key negotiators left the main group to hold a confidential discussion with the head Saudi negotiator. They urged language that would obliquely recognise the global commitment to "transition away from fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Unanticipated resolution

Instead of explicitly referencing fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the Dubai agreement". After consideration, the Saudi delegation unforeseeably approved the wording.

The room collapsed into relief. Celebrations began. The agreement was done.

With what became known as the "Belém political package", the world took an incremental move towards the systematic reduction of fossil fuels – a faltering, inadequate step that will scarcely affect the climate's ongoing trajectory towards disaster. But nevertheless a notable change from total inaction.

Major components of the agreement

• Complementing the indirect reference in the official document, countries will start developing a framework to gradually eliminate fossil fuels
• This will be mostly a non-binding program led by Brazil that will report back next year
• Addressing the required reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to not exceed the 1.5C limit was also put off to next year
• Developing countries achieved a significant expansion to $120bn of annual finance to help them adapt to the impacts of extreme weather
• 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

Mixed reactions

As the world teeters on the brink of climate "tipping points" that could devastate environments and plunge whole regions into chaos, the agreement was far from the "significant advancement" needed.

"Negotiators delivered some baby steps in the proper course, but considering the severity of the climate crisis, it has fallen short of the occasion," cautioned one climate expert.

This imperfect deal might have been the maximum achievable, given the international tensions – including a American leader who avoided the talks and remains wedded to oil and coal, the rising tide of rightwing populism, ongoing conflicts in different locations, unacceptable degrees of inequality, and global economic volatility.

"The climate arsonists – the energy conglomerates – were ultimately in the spotlight at Cop30," notes one environmental advocate. "This represents progress on that. The opportunity is open. Now we must convert it to a real fire escape to a safer world."

Major disagreements revealed

Although nations were able to applaud the formal approval of the deal, Cop30 also revealed major disagreements in the primary worldwide framework for tackling the climate crisis.

"UN negotiations are agreement-dependent, and in a era of international tensions, agreement is progressively challenging to reach," commented one senior UN official. "It would be dishonest to claim that this summit has delivered everything that is needed. The disparity between present circumstances and what science demands remains concerningly substantial."

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