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As dawn crept over the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, negotiators remained confined in a enclosed conference room, uncertain whether it was day or night. Having spent 12 hours in difficult discussions, with scores ministers representing multiple blocs of countries including the poorest nations to the richest economies.

Frustration mounted, the air stifling as exhausted delegates confronted the sobering reality: they would not reach a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The 30th UN climate conference faced the brink of abject failure.

The major obstacle: Fossil fuels

As science has told us for well over a century, the carbon dioxide produced by burning fossil fuels is increasing temperatures on our planet to critical levels.

However, during nearly three decades of annual climate meetings, the urgent need to halt fossil fuel use has been mentioned only once – in a decision made two years ago at previous UN climate talks to "transition away from fossil fuels". Delegates from the Gulf states, Russia, and a few other countries were determined this would not occur another time.

Growing momentum for change

Meanwhile, a expanding group of countries were similarly resolved that advancement on this issue was vitally needed. They had developed a initiative that was earning expanding support and made it apparent they were willing to stand their ground.

Developing countries desperately wanted to advance on securing economic resources to help them cope with the increasingly severe impacts of environmental crises.

Breaking point

During the night of Saturday, some delegates were prepared to withdraw and force a collapse. "It was on the edge for us," remarked one energy minister. "I was prepared to walk away."

The breakthrough came through talks with Saudi Arabia. Near 6am, key negotiators left the main group to hold a confidential discussion with the chief Saudi negotiator. They pressed language that would subtly reference the global commitment to "transition away from fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Unexpected agreement

Instead of explicitly mentioning fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the previous commitment". After consideration, the Saudi delegation unexpectedly agreed to the wording.

Delegates showed visible relief. Cheers erupted. The deal was completed.

With what became known as the "Amazon accord", the world took another small step towards the phaseout of fossil fuels – a faltering, insufficient step that will barely interrupt the climate's continued progression towards disaster. But nevertheless a significant departure from absolute paralysis.

Important aspects of the agreement

• Complementing the indirect reference in the official document, countries will commence creating a framework to gradually eliminate fossil fuels
• This will be mostly a non-binding program led by Brazil that will deliver findings next year
• Addressing the essential decreases in greenhouse gas emissions to not exceed the 1.5C limit was also put off to next year
• Developing countries obtained a significant expansion to $120bn of regular financial support to help them cope with the impacts of environmental crises
• This funding will not be completely provided until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "equitable change process" to help people working in polluting businesses transition to the renewable industry

Mixed reactions

With global conditions approaches the brink of climate "irreversible changes" that could eliminate habitats and throw whole regions into crisis, the agreement was insufficient as the "giant leap" needed.

"The summit provided some modest progress in the correct path, but given the severity of the climate crisis, it has fallen short of the occasion," stated one policy director.

This flawed deal might have been all that was possible, given the international tensions – including a American leader who avoided the talks and remains wedded to oil and coal, the rising tide of nationalist politics, ongoing conflicts in multiple regions, intolerable levels of inequality, and global economic volatility.

"The climate arsonists – the oil and gas companies – were finally in the spotlight at these negotiations," comments one climate activist. "This represents progress on that. The platform is available. Now we must transform it into a actual pathway to a safer world."

Major disagreements revealed

While nations were able to celebrate the gavelling through of the deal, Cop30 also exposed deep fissures in the only global process for addressing the climate crisis.

"International summits are agreement-dependent, and in a era of geopolitical divides, agreement is increasingly difficult to reach," stated one global leader. "I cannot pretend that this summit has provided all that is needed. The gap between where we are and what research requires remains alarmingly large."

If the world is to avoid the gravest consequences of climate collapse, the international negotiations alone will not be nearly enough.