In the final fractious hours of the U.N. climate summit in Brazil, when a deal to advance the world's fight against global warming was slipping out of reach, COP30 President Andre Correa do Lago reminded them about the cost of failure.

This was the first international climate conference since the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump in January abandoned international cooperation on global warming, making it crucial for countries to land an accord that demonstrates unity.

"Those who doubt that cooperation is the best way forward for climate are going to be absolutely delighted to see that we cannot reach an agreement between us," he told the delegates. "So, we must reach an agreement."

In the end, representatives from nearly 200 nations landed a deal. But its contents, and the messy process that led to its adoption, say as much about the world's divisions as its resolve to combat climate change together, according to observers, delegates and climate advocates.

The final deal approved language that would triple the money for poorer countries to adapt to the worsening impacts of warming, but also shied away from mentioning the fossil fuels that cause it. Observers described it as everything from a win to a very bad joke.

The two-week path to the final deal involved all the human drama associated with extreme........

© Japan Today