🔗 Share this article

When dawn was breaking the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, representatives remained stuck in a enclosed conference room, unaware whether it was day or night. Having spent 12 hours in strained discussions, with dozens ministers representing 17 groups of countries including the poorest nations to the most developed economies.

Patience wore thin, the air thick as weary delegates confronted the sobering reality: they would not reach a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The international climate negotiations faced the brink of abject failure.

The central impasse: Fossil fuels

As science has told us for nearly a century, the CO2 emissions produced by burning fossil fuels is heating up our planet to critical levels.

Yet, during more than three decades of annual climate meetings, the essential necessity to cease fossil fuel use has been mentioned only once – in a resolution made two years ago at previous UN climate talks to "move beyond fossil fuels". Representatives from the Gulf states, Russia, and a few other countries were determined this would not happen again.

Mounting support for change

Simultaneously, a growing number of countries were similarly resolved that progress on this issue was crucially important. They had created a proposal that was attracting expanding support and made it clear they were ready to dig in.

Emerging economies strongly sought to make progress on securing financial assistance to help them address the growing impacts of extreme weather.

Critical moment

During the night of Saturday, some delegates were prepared to walk out and cause breakdown. "It was on the edge for us," commented one government representative. "I considered to walk away."

The breakthrough occurred through discussions with Saudi Arabia. Near 6am, senior representatives separated 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.

Unanticipated resolution

Instead of explicitly namechecking fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the UAE consensus". Following reflection, the Saudi delegation surprisingly approved the wording.

Participants showed visible relief. Applause rang out. The settlement was finalized.

With what became known as the "Amazon accord", the world took a modest advance towards the gradual elimination of fossil fuels – a uncertain, limited step that will barely interrupt the climate's steady march towards disaster. But nevertheless a important shift from complete stagnation.

Key elements of the agreement

• Alongside the indirect reference in the legally agreed text, countries will begin work a roadmap to gradually eliminate fossil fuels
• This will be primarily a voluntary initiative led by Brazil that will deliver findings next year
• Addressing the essential decreases in greenhouse gas emissions to remain below the 1.5C limit was similarly postponed to next year
• Developing countries achieved a threefold increase to $120bn of regular financial support to help them adapt to the impacts of extreme weather
• This funding 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 devastate environments and throw whole regions into crisis, the agreement was insufficient as the "giant leap" needed.

"Cop30 gave us some baby steps in the correct path, but considering the scale of the climate crisis, it has not met the occasion," stated one policy director.

This limited deal might have been the best attainable, given the international tensions – including a American leader who avoided the talks and remains wedded to oil and coal, the rising tide of rightwing populism, persistent fighting in different locations, extreme measures of inequality, and global economic uncertainty.

"Fossil fuel corporations – the oil and gas companies – were at last in the focus at these negotiations," says one policy convener. "This represents progress on that. The opportunity is available. Now we must convert it to a genuine solution to a protected environment."

Major disagreements revealed

Although nations were able to applaud the official adoption of the deal, Cop30 also highlighted deep fissures in the only global process for tackling the climate crisis.

"UN negotiations are agreement-dependent, and in a time of global disagreements, unanimity is ever harder to reach," stated one global leader. "We should not suggest that these talks has provided all that is needed. The difference between our current position and what science demands remains concerningly substantial."

Should the world is to prevent the worst ravages of climate collapse, the UN climate talks alone will prove insufficient.