🔗 Share this article

As dawn illuminated the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, delegates remained trapped in a airless conference room, oblivious whether it was day or night. Having spent 12 hours in tense discussions, with numerous ministers representing multiple blocs of countries from the most vulnerable nations to the most developed economies.

Frustration mounted, the air thick as sweaty delegates faced up to the sobering reality: they would not reach a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The latest global climate summit teetered on the brink of abject failure.

The major obstacle: Fossil fuels

Scientific evidence has shown for nearly a century, the greenhouse gases produced by consuming fossil fuels is increasing temperatures on our planet to dangerous levels.

However, during more than three decades of yearly climate meetings, the essential necessity to stop fossil fuel use has been referenced only once – in a resolution made two years ago at the Dubai climate summit to "transition away from fossil fuels". Officials from the Gulf states, Russia, and a few other countries were adamant this would not occur another time.

Growing momentum for change

Simultaneously, a increasing coalition of countries were equally determined that advancement on this issue was vitally needed. They had developed a plan that was gathering increasing support and made it clear they were prepared to dig in.

Developing countries desperately wanted to advance on securing financial assistance to help them manage the growing impacts of environmental crises.

Breaking point

During the night of Saturday, some delegates were ready to walk out and force a collapse. "The situation was precarious for us," remarked one energy minister. "I considered to walk away."

The critical development came through discussions with Saudi Arabia. Shortly after 6am, principal delegates separated from the main group to hold a private conversation with the chief Saudi negotiator. They urged text that would indirectly acknowledge 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 UAE consensus". Upon deliberation, the Saudi delegation unexpectedly accepted the wording.

Delegates showed visible relief. Applause rang out. The settlement was completed.

With what became known as the "Amazon accord", the world took a modest advance towards the phaseout of fossil fuels – a uncertain, insufficient step that will scarcely affect the climate's ongoing trajectory towards crisis. But nevertheless a important shift from complete stagnation.

Major components of the agreement

• Alongside the oblique commitment in the legally agreed text, countries will commence creating a framework to phase out fossil fuels
• This will be primarily a non-binding program led by Brazil that will provide updates next year
• Addressing the required reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to stay within the 1.5C limit was similarly postponed to next year
• Developing countries secured a significant expansion to $120bn of yearly funding to help them adapt to the impacts of environmental crises
• This sum will not be delivered in full until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "just transition mechanism" to help people working in polluting businesses move toward the sustainable sector

Varied responses

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 "significant advancement" needed.

"Negotiators delivered some modest progress in the correct path, but in light of the magnitude of the climate crisis, it has not met the occasion," warned one climate expert.

This flawed deal might have been the maximum achievable, given the geopolitical headwinds – including a American leader who shunned the talks and remains aligned with oil and coal, the growing influence of rightwing populism, persistent fighting in various areas, unacceptable degrees of inequality, and global economic uncertainty.

"Fossil fuel corporations – the energy conglomerates – were finally in the crosshairs at Cop30," says one climate activist. "We have crossed a threshold on that. The opportunity is open. Now we must turn it into a genuine solution to a protected environment."

Deep fissures revealed

Even as nations were able to celebrate the gavelling through of the deal, Cop30 also revealed deep fissures in the only global process for confronting the climate crisis.

"International summits are agreement-dependent, and in a era of global disagreements, unanimity is progressively challenging to reach," stated one international diplomat. "We should not suggest that Cop30 has delivered everything that is needed. The gap between where we are and what evidence necessitates remains dangerously wide."

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