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While dawn crept over the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, delegates remained trapped in a airless conference room, unaware whether it was day or night. They had been 12 hours in tense discussions, with numerous ministers representing 17 groups of countries including the most vulnerable nations to the most developed economies.

Tempers were short, the air thick as exhausted delegates confronted the harsh reality: they would not reach a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The 30th UN climate conference faced the brink of total collapse.

The sticking point: Fossil fuels

As science has told us for well over a century, the greenhouse gases produced by burning fossil fuels is heating up our planet to dangerous levels.

Yet, during nearly three decades of yearly climate meetings, the urgent need to halt fossil fuel use has been mentioned only once – in a decision made two years ago at Cop28 to "move beyond fossil fuels". Delegates from the Gulf states, Russia, and several other countries were adamant this would not happen again.

Mounting support for change

Simultaneously, a growing number of countries were just as committed that progress on this issue was urgently necessary. They had formulated a initiative that was gathering increasing support and made it apparent they were ready to stand their ground.

Emerging economies desperately wanted to make progress on securing funding support to help them address the growing impacts of climate disasters.

Breaking point

By the early hours of Saturday, some delegates were willing to withdraw and force a collapse. "It was on the edge for us," stated one energy minister. "I was prepared to walk away."

The pivotal moment 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 encouraged language that would obliquely recognise the global commitment to "shift from fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Unexpected agreement

Rather than explicitly namechecking fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the UAE consensus". Following reflection, the Saudi delegation unforeseeably accepted the wording.

Delegates collapsed into relief. Cheers erupted. The agreement 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 uncertain, limited step that will minimally impact the climate's steady march towards disaster. But nevertheless a notable change from total inaction.

Important aspects of the agreement

• Alongside the indirect reference in the official document, countries will start developing a plan to systematically reduce fossil fuels
• This will be primarily a non-binding program led by Brazil that will deliver findings next year
• Addressing the required reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to stay within the 1.5C limit was also put off to next year
• Developing countries obtained a threefold increase to $120bn of regular financial support to help them manage 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 fossil fuel sectors shift to the sustainable sector

Varied responses

As the world teeters on the brink of climate "critical thresholds" that could destroy ecosystems and force whole regions into disorder, the agreement was not the "significant advancement" needed.

"Negotiators delivered some small advances in the right direction, but given the severity of the climate crisis, it has fallen short of the occasion," cautioned one environmental analyst.

This limited deal might have been the maximum achievable, given the geopolitical headwinds – including a American leader who ignored the talks and remains aligned with oil and coal, the growing influence of conservative movements, persistent fighting in various areas, unacceptable degrees of inequality, and global economic volatility.

"Major polluters – the energy conglomerates – were at last in the focus at these negotiations," comments one environmental advocate. "We have crossed a threshold on that. The platform is open. Now we must convert it to a genuine solution to a protected environment."

Deep fissures revealed

Although nations were able to celebrate the official adoption of the deal, Cop30 also exposed deep fissures in the primary worldwide framework for confronting the climate crisis.

"Climate conferences are consensus-based, and in a era of international tensions, unanimity is increasingly difficult to reach," commented one international diplomat. "We should not suggest that this summit has provided all that is needed. The difference between present circumstances and what research requires remains alarmingly large."

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