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When dawn was breaking the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, negotiators remained trapped in a enclosed conference room, oblivious whether it was day or night. For more than 12 hours in difficult discussions, with dozens ministers representing 17 groups of countries including the most vulnerable nations to the richest economies.

Tempers were short, the air heavy as sweaty delegates confronted the sobering reality: they would not reach a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The international climate negotiations teetered on the brink of total collapse.

The sticking point: Fossil fuels

Scientific evidence has shown for nearly a century, the greenhouse gases produced by burning fossil fuels is warming our planet to critical levels.

Nevertheless, during more than three decades of regular climate meetings, the crucial requirement to stop fossil fuel use has been referenced only once – in a agreement made two years ago at previous UN climate talks to "transition away 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

Simultaneously, a expanding group of countries were equally determined that advancement on this issue was vitally needed. They had formulated a proposal that was attracting growing support and made it clear they were ready to stand their ground.

Developing countries strongly sought to make progress on securing economic resources to help them cope with the already disastrous impacts of climate disasters.

Turning point

During the night of Saturday, some delegates were ready to withdraw and trigger failure. "We were close for us," remarked one energy minister. "I considered to walk away."

The critical development happened through negotiations with Saudi Arabia. Shortly after 6am, principal delegates split from the main group to hold a confidential discussion with the chief Saudi negotiator. They urged wording that would indirectly acknowledge the global commitment to "transition away from fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Unexpected agreement

As opposed to explicitly mentioning fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the previous commitment". After consideration, the Saudi delegation surprisingly agreed to the wording.

Participants expressed relief. Applause rang out. The deal was finalized.

With what became known as the "Belém political package", the world took an incremental move towards the phaseout of fossil fuels – a faltering, limited step that will barely interrupt the climate's ongoing trajectory towards crisis. But nevertheless a important shift from total inaction.

Major components of the agreement

• Alongside the subtle acknowledgment in the official document, countries will begin work a roadmap to gradually eliminate fossil fuels
• This will be largely a optional undertaking led by Brazil that will deliver findings next year
• Addressing the essential decreases in greenhouse gas emissions to not exceed the 1.5C limit was also put off to next year
• Developing countries secured a tripling to $120bn of regular financial support to help them cope with the impacts of environmental crises
• 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

While our planet approaches the brink of climate "tipping points" that could destroy ecosystems and throw whole regions into disorder, the agreement was insufficient as the "giant leap" needed.

"Cop30 gave us some small advances in the proper course, but in light of the magnitude of the climate crisis, it has not met the occasion," cautioned one environmental analyst.

This flawed deal might have been the maximum achievable, given the international tensions – including a US president who shunned the talks and remains committed to oil and coal, the increasing presence of nationalist politics, ongoing conflicts in different locations, extreme measures of inequality, and global economic volatility.

"Fossil fuel corporations – the energy conglomerates – were finally in the focus at the climate summit," says one policy convener. "There is no turning back on that. The platform is open. Now we must transform it into a genuine solution to a more secure planet."

Major disagreements revealed

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

"International summits are agreement-dependent, and in a period of global disagreements, consensus is ever harder to reach," stated one senior UN official. "I cannot pretend that this summit has provided all that is needed. The disparity between where we are and what evidence necessitates remains dangerously wide."

Should the world is to avoid the worst ravages of climate crisis, the global discussions alone will fall far short.