While dawn was breaking the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, delegates remained trapped in a airless conference room, unaware whether it was day or night. They had been 12 hours in strained discussions, with dozens ministers representing 17 groups of countries from the least developed nations to the most developed economies.
Patience wore thin, the air stifling as weary delegates confronted the sobering reality: there would not be a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The latest global climate summit teetered on the brink of abject failure.
The central impasse: Fossil fuels
As science has told us for nearly a century, the greenhouse gases produced by utilizing fossil fuels is heating up our planet to dangerous levels.
Nevertheless, during over three decades of yearly climate meetings, the essential necessity to cease fossil fuel use has been mentioned only once – in a agreement made two years ago at previous UN climate talks to "shift from fossil fuels". Officials from the Gulf states, Russia, and several other countries were adamant this would not occur another time.
Increasing pressure for change
At the same time, a expanding group of countries were similarly resolved that advancement on this issue was crucially important. They had formulated a proposal that was attracting increasing support and made it evident they were ready to hold firm.
Emerging economies strongly sought to advance on securing financial assistance to help them cope with the already disastrous impacts of climate disasters.
Critical moment
By the early hours of Saturday, some delegates were willing to withdraw and cause breakdown. "It was on the edge for us," commented one government representative. "I considered to walk away."
The critical development occurred through discussions with Saudi Arabia. Around 6am, senior representatives separated from the main group to hold a closed-door meeting with the head Saudi negotiator. They encouraged text 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 referencing fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the previous commitment". Upon deliberation, the Saudi delegation unforeseeably agreed to the wording.
Delegates showed visible relief. Applause rang out. The agreement was finalized.
With what became known as the "Belém political package", the world took a modest advance towards the phaseout of fossil fuels – a uncertain, insufficient step that will barely interrupt the climate's steady march towards disaster. But nevertheless a significant departure from complete stagnation.
Key elements of the agreement
- In addition to the oblique commitment in the legally agreed text, countries will begin work a roadmap to phase out fossil fuels
- This will be primarily a non-binding program led by Brazil that will report back next year
- Addressing the required reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to stay within the 1.5C limit was also put off to next year
- Developing countries achieved a threefold increase to $120bn of annual finance to help them cope with the impacts of climate disasters
- This sum will not be delivered in full until 2035
- Workers will benefit from a "just transition mechanism" to help people working in fossil fuel sectors transition to the renewable industry
Varied responses
While our planet teeters on the brink of climate "critical thresholds" that could devastate environments and throw whole regions into disorder, the agreement was not the "giant leap" needed.
"The summit provided some small advances in the right direction, but in light of the severity of the climate crisis, it has failed to rise to the occasion," warned one environmental analyst.
This limited deal might have been the maximum achievable, given the political challenges – including a American leader who avoided the talks and remains committed to oil and coal, the growing influence of rightwing populism, ongoing conflicts in different locations, intolerable levels of inequality, and global economic instability.
"Fossil fuel corporations – the energy conglomerates – were ultimately in the spotlight at the climate summit," comments one environmental advocate. "We have crossed a threshold on that. The opportunity is accessible. Now we must transform it into a genuine solution to a more secure planet."
Deep fissures revealed
Even as nations were able to applaud the gavelling through of the deal, Cop30 also exposed major disagreements in the primary worldwide framework for confronting the climate crisis.
"International summits are unanimity-required, and in a era of geopolitical divides, agreement is increasingly difficult to reach," stated one global leader. "I cannot pretend that these talks has delivered everything that is needed. The gap between present circumstances and what evidence necessitates remains dangerously wide."
Should the world is to avert the gravest consequences of climate breakdown, the UN climate talks alone will not be nearly enough.
