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While dawn was breaking the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, delegates remained confined in a enclosed conference room, oblivious whether it was day or night. For more than 12 hours in difficult discussions, with numerous ministers representing 17 groups of countries including the least developed nations to the wealthiest economies.

Frustration mounted, the air heavy as weary delegates confronted the sobering reality: there would not be a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The 30th UN climate conference faced the brink of complete breakdown.

The central impasse: Fossil fuels

Research has demonstrated for well over a century, the CO2 emissions produced by consuming fossil fuels is warming our planet to dangerous levels.

Yet, during over three decades of annual climate meetings, the crucial requirement to halt fossil fuel use has been mentioned only once – in a agreement made two years ago at Cop28 to "shift from fossil fuels". Delegates from the Middle Eastern nations, Russia, and a few other countries were resolved this would not be repeated.

Increasing pressure for change

At the same time, a increasing coalition of countries were equally determined that progress on this issue was vitally needed. They had created a proposal that was earning increasing support and made it clear they were willing to stand their ground.

Emerging economies strongly sought to make progress on securing funding support to help them manage the growing impacts of climate disasters.

Breaking point

During the night of Saturday, some delegates were willing to withdraw and trigger failure. "The situation was precarious for us," stated one government representative. "I was ready to walk away."

The pivotal moment happened through negotiations with Saudi Arabia. Near 6am, principal delegates split from the main group to hold a private conversation with the lead Saudi negotiator. They encouraged text that would subtly reference the global commitment to "move beyond fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Surprising consensus

Rather than explicitly namechecking fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the previous commitment". Following reflection, the Saudi delegation unforeseeably accepted the wording.

The room showed visible relief. Applause rang out. The settlement was finalized.

With what became known as the "Amazon accord", the world took an incremental move towards the gradual elimination of fossil fuels – a uncertain, inadequate step that will barely interrupt the climate's steady march towards crisis. But nevertheless a significant departure from absolute paralysis.

Key elements of the agreement

• In addition to the subtle acknowledgment in the official document, countries will begin work a plan to systematically reduce fossil fuels
• This will be primarily a optional undertaking led by Brazil that will report back next year
• Addressing the essential decreases in greenhouse gas emissions to stay within the 1.5C limit was similarly postponed to next year
• Developing countries obtained a threefold increase to $120bn of yearly funding to help them cope with the impacts of climate disasters
• This amount will not be delivered in full until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "equitable change process" to help people working in polluting businesses shift to the clean economy

Varied responses

With global conditions teeters on the brink of climate "critical thresholds" that could destroy ecosystems and plunge whole regions into disorder, the agreement was insufficient as the "major breakthrough" needed.

"Negotiators delivered some small advances in the correct path, but in light of the scale of the climate crisis, it has failed to rise to the occasion," stated one policy director.

This imperfect deal might have been all that was possible, given the geopolitical headwinds – including a US president who ignored the talks and remains aligned with oil and coal, the growing influence of conservative movements, persistent fighting in multiple regions, intolerable levels of inequality, and global economic volatility.

"Fossil fuel corporations – the fossil fuel giants – were finally in the crosshairs at the climate summit," says one climate activist. "This represents progress on that. The political space is open. Now we must convert it to a genuine solution to a safer world."

Deep fissures revealed

Although nations were able to welcome the formal approval of the deal, Cop30 also highlighted major disagreements in the primary worldwide framework for confronting the climate crisis.

"Climate conferences are consensus-based, and in a era of international tensions, consensus is progressively challenging to reach," stated one senior UN official. "It would be dishonest to claim that these talks has achieved complete success that is needed. The gap between present circumstances and what research requires remains concerningly substantial."

If the world is to avoid the gravest consequences of climate collapse, the global discussions alone will fall far short.