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When dawn was breaking the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, negotiators remained trapped in a windowless conference room, unaware whether it was day or night. They had been 12 hours in difficult discussions, with scores ministers representing 17 groups of countries including the poorest nations to the richest economies.

Tempers were short, the air thick as sweaty delegates confronted the grim reality: they would not reach a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The latest global climate summit hovered near the brink of complete breakdown.

The sticking point: Fossil fuels

As science has told us for nearly a century, the carbon dioxide produced by utilizing fossil fuels is heating up our planet to dangerous levels.

Nevertheless, during more than three decades of annual climate meetings, the urgent need to cease fossil fuel use has been referenced only once – in a agreement made two years ago at Cop28 to "transition away from fossil fuels". Delegates from the Middle Eastern nations, Russia, and a few other countries were adamant this would not occur another time.

Increasing pressure for change

Meanwhile, a increasing coalition of countries were similarly resolved that advancement on this issue was crucially important. They had formulated a proposal that was attracting increasing support and made it clear they were prepared to dig in.

Developing countries urgently needed to move forward on securing funding support to help them address the already disastrous impacts of climate disasters.

Turning point

During the night of Saturday, some delegates were ready to withdraw and cause breakdown. "The situation was precarious for us," remarked one national delegate. "I was ready to walk away."

The critical development occurred through negotiations with Saudi Arabia. Around 6am, key negotiators left the main group to hold a confidential discussion with the head Saudi negotiator. They pressed language that would obliquely recognise the global commitment to "move beyond fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Surprising consensus

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

Participants collapsed into relief. Applause rang out. The agreement was finalized.

With what became known as the "Belém political package", the world took another small step towards the systematic reduction of fossil fuels – a hesitant, insufficient step that will minimally impact the climate's continued progression towards catastrophe. But nevertheless a notable change from total inaction.

Key elements of the agreement

• In addition to the oblique commitment in the formal agreement, countries will commence creating a framework to phase out fossil fuels
• This will be mostly a non-binding program led by Brazil that will deliver findings next year
• Addressing the necessary cuts in greenhouse gas emissions to not exceed the 1.5C limit was also put off to next year
• Developing countries achieved a threefold increase to $120bn of annual finance to help them manage the impacts of extreme weather
• This funding will not be delivered in full until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "fair adjustment program" to help people working in high-carbon industries move toward the clean economy

Differing opinions

While our planet teeters on the brink of climate "irreversible changes" that could eliminate habitats and throw whole regions into disorder, the agreement was far from the "significant advancement" needed.

"The summit provided some modest progress in the proper course, but considering the severity of the climate crisis, it has not met the occasion," cautioned one climate expert.

This imperfect deal might have been all that was possible, given the international tensions – including a American leader who avoided the talks and remains aligned with oil and coal, the increasing presence of rightwing populism, persistent fighting in multiple regions, unacceptable degrees of inequality, and global economic volatility.

"Major polluters – the fossil fuel giants – were finally in the crosshairs at the climate summit," says one policy convener. "We have crossed a threshold on that. The platform is open. Now we must turn it into a actual pathway to a safer world."

Significant divisions revealed

While nations were able to celebrate the gavelling through of the deal, Cop30 also exposed significant divisions in the only global process for confronting the climate crisis.

"Climate conferences are unanimity-required, and in a period of global disagreements, consensus is increasingly difficult to reach," observed one international diplomat. "I cannot pretend that Cop30 has provided all that is needed. The difference between present circumstances and what science demands remains dangerously wide."

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