🔗 Share this article

As dawn was breaking the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, delegates remained trapped in a windowless conference room, uncertain whether it was day or night. Having spent 12 hours in tense discussions, with scores ministers representing 17 groups of countries including the least developed nations to the wealthiest economies.

Tempers were short, the air stifling as exhausted delegates faced up to the grim reality: they were unlikely to achieve a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The international climate negotiations faced the brink of abject failure.

The major obstacle: Fossil fuels

Research has demonstrated for more than a century, the carbon dioxide produced by burning fossil fuels is warming our planet to critical levels.

Nevertheless, during over three decades of annual climate meetings, the essential necessity to halt fossil fuel use has been addressed only once – in a resolution made two years ago at previous UN climate talks to "move beyond fossil fuels". Officials from the Arab Group, Russia, and multiple other countries were resolved this would not occur another time.

Mounting support for change

Simultaneously, a growing number of countries were equally determined that movement on this issue was crucially important. They had formulated a proposal that was earning expanding support and made it apparent they were ready to stand their ground.

Less wealthy nations strongly sought to advance on securing funding support to help them cope with the increasingly severe impacts of environmental crises.

Turning point

By the early hours of Saturday, some delegates were ready to withdraw and trigger failure. "It was on the edge for us," remarked one energy minister. "I considered to walk away."

The critical development came through discussions with Saudi Arabia. Near 6am, key negotiators split from the main group to hold a private conversation with the chief Saudi negotiator. They encouraged wording that would subtly reference the global commitment to "transition away from fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Unexpected agreement

As opposed to explicitly namechecking fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the UAE consensus". Following reflection, the Saudi delegation surprisingly accepted the wording.

The room showed visible relief. Applause rang out. The deal was completed.

With what became known as the "Belém political package", the world took an incremental move towards the systematic reduction of fossil fuels – a hesitant, inadequate step that will scarcely affect the climate's ongoing trajectory towards catastrophe. But nevertheless a notable change from complete stagnation.

Major components of the agreement

• In addition to the oblique commitment in the formal agreement, countries will commence creating a framework to gradually eliminate fossil fuels
• This will be mostly a non-binding program led by Brazil that will provide updates next year
• Addressing the essential decreases in greenhouse gas emissions to remain below the 1.5C limit was likewise deferred to next year
• Developing countries secured a tripling to $120bn of annual finance to help them cope with the impacts of extreme weather
• This amount will not be fully available until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "just transition mechanism" to help people working in high-carbon industries shift to the renewable industry

Mixed reactions

While our planet approaches the brink of climate "irreversible changes" that could devastate environments and plunge whole regions into crisis, the agreement was insufficient as the "significant advancement" needed.

"The summit provided some small advances in the correct path, but given the magnitude of the climate crisis, it has failed to rise to the occasion," cautioned one climate expert.

This flawed deal might have been the maximum achievable, given the international tensions – including a Washington administration who ignored the talks and remains aligned with oil and coal, the rising tide of nationalist politics, continuing wars in different locations, intolerable levels of inequality, and global economic uncertainty.

"Fossil fuel corporations – the oil and gas companies – were ultimately in the crosshairs at these negotiations," notes one climate activist. "We have crossed a threshold on that. The opportunity is open. Now we must turn it into a actual pathway to a protected environment."

Significant divisions revealed

While nations were able to celebrate the gavelling through of the deal, Cop30 also highlighted significant divisions in the primary worldwide framework for confronting the climate crisis.

"International summits are consensus-based, and in a time of international tensions, agreement is ever harder to reach," stated one international diplomat. "I cannot pretend that this summit has provided all that is needed. The gap between where we are and what research requires remains concerningly substantial."

Should the world is to avert the most severe impacts of climate breakdown, the global discussions alone will not be nearly enough.