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When dawn illuminated the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, delegates remained stuck in a windowless conference room, oblivious whether it was day or night. They had been 12 hours in difficult discussions, with dozens ministers representing various coalitions of countries from the poorest nations to the richest economies.

Tempers were short, the air stifling as weary delegates acknowledged the sobering reality: they were unlikely to achieve a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The 30th UN climate conference teetered on the brink of complete breakdown.

The central impasse: Fossil fuels

Research has demonstrated for well over a century, the carbon dioxide produced by utilizing fossil fuels is warming our planet to alarming levels.

Yet, during nearly three decades of yearly climate meetings, the urgent need to halt fossil fuel use has been referenced only once – in a agreement made two years ago at previous UN climate talks to "shift from fossil fuels". Delegates from the Arab Group, Russia, and a few other countries were resolved this would not be repeated.

Mounting support for change

Meanwhile, a growing number of countries were similarly resolved that progress on this issue was urgently necessary. They had formulated a initiative that was gathering expanding support and made it apparent they were willing to dig in.

Less wealthy nations strongly sought to advance on securing economic resources to help them address the growing impacts of extreme weather.

Turning point

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

The pivotal moment occurred through negotiations with Saudi Arabia. Shortly after 6am, senior representatives left the main group to hold a confidential discussion with the head Saudi negotiator. They encouraged wording that would indirectly acknowledge the global commitment to "transition away from fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Unexpected agreement

Instead of explicitly referencing fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the Dubai agreement". Upon deliberation, the Saudi delegation surprisingly approved the wording.

Delegates collapsed into relief. Applause rang out. The settlement was completed.

With what became known as the "Belém political package", the world took another small step towards the phaseout of fossil fuels – a faltering, inadequate step that will minimally impact the climate's ongoing trajectory towards catastrophe. But nevertheless a notable change from absolute paralysis.

Major components of the agreement

• Alongside the indirect reference in the official document, countries will commence creating a framework to phase out 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 not exceed the 1.5C limit was likewise deferred to next year
• Developing countries achieved a threefold increase to $120bn of annual finance to help them adapt to the impacts of extreme weather
• This amount will not be delivered in full until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "fair adjustment program" to help people working in polluting businesses move toward the sustainable sector

Differing opinions

With global conditions approaches the brink of climate "critical thresholds" that could destroy ecosystems and throw whole regions into disorder, the agreement was far from the "major breakthrough" needed.

"Cop30 gave us some small advances in the correct path, but given the severity of the climate crisis, it has failed to rise to the occasion," cautioned one environmental analyst.

This limited deal might have been the maximum achievable, given the political challenges – including a Washington administration who shunned the talks and remains committed to oil and coal, the increasing presence of nationalist politics, ongoing conflicts in multiple regions, extreme measures of inequality, and global economic uncertainty.

"Fossil fuel corporations – the energy conglomerates – were at last in the spotlight at the climate summit," comments one climate activist. "This represents progress on that. The platform is available. Now we must turn it into a real fire escape to a safer world."

Deep fissures revealed

While nations were able to celebrate the gavelling through of the deal, Cop30 also revealed deep fissures in the only global process for tackling the climate crisis.

"International summits are consensus-based, and in a time of geopolitical divides, agreement is ever harder to reach," commented one international diplomat. "We should not suggest that this summit has provided all that is needed. The disparity between present circumstances and what evidence necessitates remains alarmingly large."

When the world is to avoid the most severe impacts of climate breakdown, the UN climate talks alone will not be nearly enough.