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

Patience wore thin, the air heavy as sweaty delegates confronted the harsh reality: they were unlikely to achieve a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The international climate negotiations faced the brink of total collapse.

The central impasse: Fossil fuels

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

However, during over three decades of yearly climate meetings, the essential necessity to cease 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". Representatives from the Middle Eastern nations, Russia, and a few other countries were determined this would not be repeated.

Mounting support for change

At the same time, a increasing coalition of countries were similarly resolved that advancement on this issue was crucially important. They had formulated a proposal that was attracting expanding support and made it clear they were willing to dig in.

Developing countries desperately wanted to make progress on securing funding support to help them address the already disastrous impacts of extreme weather.

Turning point

By the early hours of Saturday, some delegates were ready to walk out and cause breakdown. "The situation was precarious for us," commented one energy minister. "I was prepared to walk away."

The breakthrough came through discussions with Saudi Arabia. Near 6am, senior representatives split from the main group to hold a private conversation with the chief Saudi negotiator. They encouraged text that would obliquely recognise the global commitment to "move beyond fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Surprising consensus

Instead of explicitly mentioning fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the Dubai agreement". After consideration, the Saudi delegation surprisingly approved the wording.

Delegates expressed relief. Cheers erupted. The settlement was finalized.

With what became known as the "Amazon accord", the world took a modest advance towards the phaseout of fossil fuels – a hesitant, insufficient step that will barely interrupt the climate's continued progression towards disaster. But nevertheless a notable change from total inaction.

Major components of the agreement

• In addition to the indirect reference in the legally agreed text, countries will begin work a plan to gradually eliminate fossil fuels
• This will be mostly a voluntary initiative led by Brazil that will provide updates next year
• Addressing the necessary cuts in greenhouse gas emissions to stay within the 1.5C limit was similarly postponed to next year
• Developing countries obtained a significant expansion to $120bn of yearly funding to help them adapt to 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 move toward the clean economy

Mixed reactions

As the world approaches the brink of climate "tipping points" that could devastate environments and throw whole regions into crisis, the agreement was far from the "giant leap" needed.

"The summit provided some baby steps in the proper course, but in light of the severity of the climate crisis, it has failed to rise to the occasion," warned one environmental analyst.

This imperfect deal might have been all that was possible, given the political challenges – including a American leader who ignored the talks and remains committed to oil and coal, the growing influence of rightwing populism, persistent fighting in multiple regions, intolerable levels of inequality, and global economic instability.

"The climate arsonists – the fossil fuel giants – were finally in the crosshairs at Cop30," notes one policy convener. "There is no turning back on that. The opportunity is accessible. Now we must transform it into a genuine solution to a safer world."

Deep fissures revealed

Even as nations were able to welcome the official adoption of the deal, Cop30 also exposed major disagreements in the only global process for tackling the climate crisis.

"Climate conferences are agreement-dependent, and in a time of geopolitical divides, consensus is progressively challenging to reach," stated one senior UN official. "We should not suggest that these talks has achieved complete success that is needed. The gap between where we are and what research requires remains dangerously wide."

When the world is to avert the gravest consequences of climate breakdown, the global discussions alone will prove insufficient.