🔗 Share this article

When dawn was breaking the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, representatives remained stuck in a airless conference room, uncertain whether it was day or night. They had been 12 hours in tense discussions, with scores ministers representing various coalitions of countries including the least developed nations to the most developed economies.

Patience wore thin, the air stifling as weary delegates faced up to the sobering reality: there would not be a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The latest global climate summit faced the brink of complete breakdown.

The sticking point: Fossil fuels

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

Yet, during more than three decades of regular climate meetings, the essential necessity to halt fossil fuel use has been mentioned only once – in a decision made two years ago at the Dubai climate summit to "move beyond fossil fuels". Officials from the Arab Group, Russia, and a few other countries were determined this would not occur another time.

Growing momentum for change

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

Emerging economies urgently needed to advance on securing financial assistance to help them manage the increasingly severe impacts of climate disasters.

Critical moment

By the early hours of Saturday, some delegates were prepared to walk out and trigger failure. "It was on the edge for us," commented one government representative. "I was prepared to walk away."

The breakthrough came through negotiations with Saudi Arabia. Near 6am, principal delegates separated from the main group to hold a closed-door meeting with the lead Saudi negotiator. They encouraged text that would subtly reference the global commitment to "transition away from fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Unexpected agreement

Rather than explicitly mentioning fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the UAE consensus". Following reflection, the Saudi delegation unexpectedly agreed to the wording.

Delegates collapsed into relief. Celebrations began. The deal was done.

With what became known as the "Belém political package", the world took a modest advance towards the gradual elimination of fossil fuels – a faltering, limited step that will scarcely affect the climate's ongoing trajectory towards disaster. But nevertheless a important shift from complete stagnation.

Major components of the agreement

• Complementing the oblique commitment in the formal agreement, countries will begin work a framework to systematically reduce fossil fuels
• This will be primarily a optional undertaking 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 similarly postponed 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 funding will not be delivered in full until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "equitable change process" to help people working in fossil fuel sectors move toward the clean economy

Mixed reactions

As the world approaches the brink of climate "critical thresholds" that could destroy ecosystems and throw whole regions into disorder, the agreement was insufficient as the "major breakthrough" needed.

"The summit provided some baby steps in the correct path, but in light of the magnitude of the climate crisis, it has not met the occasion," warned one environmental analyst.

This flawed deal might have been all that was possible, given the international tensions – including a US president who shunned the talks and remains committed to oil and coal, the rising tide of conservative movements, persistent fighting in multiple regions, extreme measures of inequality, and global economic instability.

"The climate arsonists – the energy conglomerates – were ultimately in the spotlight at these negotiations," says one climate activist. "This represents progress on that. The political space is available. Now we must transform it into a actual pathway to a more secure planet."

Significant divisions revealed

While nations were able to celebrate the official adoption of the deal, Cop30 also highlighted significant divisions in the only global process for confronting the climate crisis.

"UN negotiations are consensus-based, and in a time of geopolitical divides, consensus is ever harder to reach," commented one international diplomat. "It would be dishonest to claim that these talks has provided all that is needed. The disparity between where we are and what science demands remains concerningly substantial."

When the world is to prevent the gravest consequences of climate breakdown, the global discussions alone will prove insufficient.