🔗 Share this article

As dawn was breaking the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, representatives remained confined in a enclosed conference room, uncertain whether it was day or night. They had been 12 hours in difficult discussions, with scores ministers representing various coalitions of countries from the least developed nations to the wealthiest economies.

Frustration mounted, the air thick as sweaty delegates confronted the sobering reality: they would not reach a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The latest global climate summit hovered near the brink of total collapse.

The major obstacle: Fossil fuels

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

However, during over three decades of yearly climate meetings, the crucial requirement to stop fossil fuel use has been mentioned only once – in a resolution made two years ago at previous UN climate talks to "shift from fossil fuels". Delegates from the Gulf states, Russia, and multiple other countries were determined this would not occur another time.

Increasing pressure for change

Simultaneously, a growing number of countries were just as committed that movement on this issue was urgently necessary. They had developed a proposal that was attracting expanding support and made it evident they were willing to dig in.

Less wealthy nations desperately wanted to make progress on securing economic resources to help them address the increasingly severe impacts of extreme weather.

Turning point

By the early hours of Saturday, some delegates were ready to withdraw and cause breakdown. "The situation was precarious for us," stated one energy minister. "I was prepared to walk away."

The breakthrough came through talks with Saudi Arabia. Near 6am, key negotiators left the main group to hold a private conversation with the lead Saudi negotiator. They urged language that would obliquely recognise the global commitment to "shift from fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Unanticipated resolution

As opposed to explicitly namechecking fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the UAE consensus". After consideration, the Saudi delegation surprisingly agreed to the wording.

Delegates expressed relief. Applause rang out. The deal was done.

With what became known as the "Brazil agreement", the world took another small step towards the systematic reduction of fossil fuels – a uncertain, limited step that will scarcely affect the climate's steady march towards crisis. But nevertheless a important shift from complete stagnation.

Major components of the agreement

• In addition to the subtle acknowledgment in the formal agreement, countries will begin work a plan to phase out fossil fuels
• This will be largely a voluntary initiative led by Brazil that will report back next year
• Addressing the essential decreases in greenhouse gas emissions to remain below the 1.5C limit was also put off to next year
• Developing countries obtained a significant expansion to $120bn of annual finance to help them cope with the impacts of environmental crises
• This amount will not be completely provided until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "fair adjustment program" to help people working in polluting businesses shift to the sustainable sector

Mixed reactions

With global conditions approaches the brink of climate "irreversible changes" that could devastate environments and throw whole regions into disorder, the agreement was not the "giant leap" needed.

"Cop30 gave us some modest progress in the proper course, but considering the scale of the climate crisis, it has fallen short of the occasion," stated one policy director.

This imperfect deal might have been the best attainable, given the geopolitical headwinds – including a American leader who avoided the talks and remains wedded to oil and coal, the growing influence of nationalist politics, ongoing conflicts in various areas, intolerable levels of inequality, and global economic volatility.

"Fossil fuel corporations – the fossil fuel giants – were at last in the spotlight at these negotiations," says one environmental advocate. "This represents progress on that. The platform is open. Now we must transform it into a genuine solution to a safer world."

Deep fissures revealed

Although nations were able to welcome the gavelling through of the deal, Cop30 also highlighted significant divisions in the only global process for tackling the climate crisis.

"Climate conferences are consensus-based, and in a era of international tensions, consensus is increasingly difficult to reach," observed one global leader. "I cannot pretend that these talks has delivered everything that is needed. The disparity between present circumstances and what research requires remains concerningly substantial."

When the world is to prevent the most severe impacts of climate collapse, the international negotiations alone will fall far short.