🔗 Share this article

When dawn illuminated the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, delegates remained confined in a windowless conference room, unaware whether it was day or night. Having spent 12 hours in difficult discussions, with scores ministers representing 17 groups of countries from the poorest nations to the most developed economies.

Patience wore thin, the air stifling as weary delegates acknowledged the sobering reality: they were unlikely to achieve a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The latest global climate summit teetered on the brink of abject failure.

The sticking point: Fossil fuels

Scientific evidence has shown for well over a century, the carbon dioxide produced by utilizing fossil fuels is heating up our planet to critical levels.

Nevertheless, during more than three decades of regular climate meetings, the essential necessity to halt fossil fuel use has been addressed only once – in a decision made two years ago at the Dubai climate summit to "transition away from fossil fuels". Delegates from the Arab Group, Russia, and multiple other countries were resolved this would not occur another time.

Increasing pressure for change

Simultaneously, a expanding group of countries were similarly resolved that progress on this issue was crucially important. They had formulated a proposal that was earning increasing support and made it evident they were prepared to hold firm.

Developing countries strongly sought to advance on securing financial assistance to help them cope with the growing impacts of extreme weather.

Breaking point

By the early hours of Saturday, some delegates were ready to walk out and force a collapse. "It was on the edge for us," commented one national delegate. "I considered to walk away."

The pivotal moment happened through discussions with Saudi Arabia. Near 6am, key negotiators split from the main group to hold a private conversation with the head Saudi negotiator. They urged language that would obliquely recognise the global commitment to "transition away from fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Unanticipated resolution

Instead of explicitly mentioning fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the Dubai agreement". After consideration, the Saudi delegation surprisingly approved the wording.

Delegates showed visible relief. Celebrations began. The agreement was done.

With what became known as the "Brazil agreement", the world took an incremental move towards the phaseout of fossil fuels – a hesitant, limited step that will barely interrupt the climate's continued progression towards crisis. But nevertheless a notable change from absolute paralysis.

Major components of the agreement

• In addition to the subtle acknowledgment in the official document, countries will begin work a framework to systematically reduce fossil fuels
• This will be mostly a voluntary initiative led by Brazil that will provide updates next year
• Addressing the necessary cuts in greenhouse gas emissions to stay within the 1.5C limit was similarly postponed to next year
• Developing countries achieved a significant expansion to $120bn of regular financial support to help them cope with the impacts of environmental crises
• This amount will not be fully available until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "fair adjustment program" to help people working in fossil fuel sectors transition to the renewable industry

Differing opinions

With global conditions approaches the brink of climate "critical thresholds" that could destroy ecosystems and plunge whole regions into crisis, the agreement was insufficient as the "significant advancement" needed.

"Cop30 gave us some modest progress in the proper course, but in light of the magnitude of the climate crisis, it has failed to rise to the occasion," stated one policy director.

This imperfect deal might have been the best attainable, given the international tensions – including a Washington administration who ignored the talks and remains wedded to oil and coal, the rising tide of nationalist politics, persistent fighting in various areas, unacceptable degrees of inequality, and global economic volatility.

"The climate arsonists – the energy conglomerates – were finally in the crosshairs at Cop30," notes one climate activist. "There is no turning back on that. The political space is accessible. Now we must turn it into a real fire escape to a safer world."

Major disagreements revealed

Although nations were able to applaud the official adoption of the deal, Cop30 also revealed deep fissures in the sole international mechanism for addressing the climate crisis.

"UN negotiations are unanimity-required, and in a time of geopolitical divides, agreement is ever harder to reach," observed one international diplomat. "It would be dishonest to claim that Cop30 has achieved complete success that is needed. The gap between present circumstances and what research requires remains alarmingly large."

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