🔗 Share this article

As 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 tense discussions, with scores ministers representing various coalitions of countries ranging from the most vulnerable nations to the richest economies.

Frustration mounted, the air stifling as weary delegates faced up to the grim reality: there would not be a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The latest global climate summit hovered near the brink of total collapse.

The sticking point: Fossil fuels

As science has told us for well over a century, the greenhouse gases produced by burning fossil fuels is warming our planet to critical levels.

Yet, during more than three decades of annual climate meetings, the essential necessity to stop fossil fuel use has been mentioned only once – in a agreement made two years ago at the Dubai climate summit to "shift from fossil fuels". Delegates from the Middle Eastern nations, Russia, and a few other countries were adamant this would not happen again.

Growing momentum for change

Meanwhile, a expanding group of countries were just as committed that advancement on this issue was crucially important. They had developed a plan that was earning growing support and made it clear they were willing to stand their ground.

Less wealthy nations strongly sought to move forward on securing economic resources to help them cope with the increasingly severe impacts of climate disasters.

Breaking point

In the pre-dawn period of Saturday, some delegates were ready to withdraw and trigger failure. "The situation was precarious for us," commented one national delegate. "I considered to walk away."

The breakthrough occurred through talks with Saudi Arabia. Shortly after 6am, senior representatives left the main group to hold a confidential discussion with the head Saudi negotiator. They pressed language that would obliquely recognise the global commitment to "move beyond fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Unanticipated resolution

Rather than explicitly referencing fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the UAE consensus". Following reflection, the Saudi delegation surprisingly approved the wording.

The room collapsed into relief. Cheers erupted. The settlement was done.

With what became known as the "Amazon accord", the world took a modest advance towards the phaseout of fossil fuels – a faltering, limited step that will minimally impact the climate's ongoing trajectory towards catastrophe. But nevertheless a important shift from absolute paralysis.

Key elements of the agreement

• In addition to the subtle acknowledgment in the legally agreed text, countries will commence creating a plan to phase out fossil fuels
• This will be primarily a non-binding program led by Brazil that will report back next year
• Addressing the essential decreases in greenhouse gas emissions to stay within the 1.5C limit was likewise deferred to next year
• Developing countries obtained a threefold increase to $120bn of regular financial support to help them adapt to the impacts of environmental crises
• This sum will not be fully available until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "fair adjustment program" to help people working in high-carbon industries move toward the sustainable sector

Differing opinions

With global conditions approaches the brink of climate "critical thresholds" that could eliminate habitats and force whole regions into disorder, the agreement was not the "giant leap" needed.

"Negotiators delivered some small advances in the correct path, but given the scale of the climate crisis, it has failed to rise to the occasion," warned one environmental analyst.

This limited deal might have been all that was possible, given the international tensions – including a Washington administration who ignored the talks and remains aligned with oil and coal, the increasing presence of nationalist politics, continuing wars in different locations, intolerable levels of inequality, and global economic volatility.

"Fossil fuel corporations – the oil and gas companies – were finally in the focus at Cop30," comments one environmental advocate. "We have crossed a threshold on that. The opportunity is accessible. Now we must transform it into a actual pathway to a more secure planet."

Significant divisions revealed

Although nations were able to welcome the gavelling through of the deal, Cop30 also highlighted significant divisions in the sole international mechanism for confronting the climate crisis.

"Climate conferences are consensus-based, and in a period of international tensions, unanimity is ever harder to reach," stated one senior UN official. "We should not suggest that this summit has achieved complete success that is needed. The gap between where we are and what science demands remains concerningly substantial."

Should the world is to avoid the worst ravages of climate breakdown, the global discussions alone will not be nearly enough.