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As dawn crept over 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 numerous ministers representing various coalitions of countries ranging from the poorest nations to the wealthiest economies.

Patience wore thin, the air thick as weary delegates acknowledged the harsh 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 alarming levels.

Nevertheless, during more than three decades of annual climate meetings, the urgent need to cease fossil fuel use has been mentioned only once – in a agreement made two years ago at the Dubai climate summit to "transition away from fossil fuels". Officials from the Middle Eastern nations, Russia, and a few other countries were determined this would not happen again.

Increasing pressure for change

Meanwhile, a growing number of countries were similarly resolved that movement on this issue was urgently necessary. They had created a proposal that was gathering expanding support and made it clear they were willing to stand their ground.

Developing countries strongly sought to make progress on securing funding support to help them manage the already disastrous impacts of climate disasters.

Breaking point

By the early hours of Saturday, some delegates were prepared to walk out and cause breakdown. "We were close for us," stated one national delegate. "I considered to walk away."

The breakthrough happened through discussions with Saudi Arabia. Around 6am, key negotiators left the main group to hold a confidential discussion with the chief Saudi negotiator. They urged language that would indirectly acknowledge the global commitment to "transition away from fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Unexpected agreement

Rather than explicitly referencing fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the Dubai agreement". Following reflection, the Saudi delegation unforeseeably agreed to the wording.

Participants expressed relief. Celebrations began. The deal was finalized.

With what became known as the "Brazil agreement", the world took a modest advance towards the gradual elimination of fossil fuels – a faltering, inadequate step that will minimally impact the climate's continued progression towards crisis. But nevertheless a important shift from total inaction.

Important aspects of the agreement

• In addition to the subtle acknowledgment in the legally agreed text, countries will start developing a framework to gradually eliminate fossil fuels
• This will be largely a voluntary initiative led by Brazil that will deliver findings next year
• Addressing the required reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to remain below the 1.5C limit was similarly postponed to next year
• Developing countries obtained a threefold increase to $120bn of annual finance to help them adapt to the impacts of climate disasters
• This amount will not be fully available until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "equitable change process" to help people working in fossil fuel sectors transition to the renewable industry

Differing opinions

With global conditions hovers near the brink of climate "critical thresholds" that could eliminate habitats and plunge whole regions into disorder, the agreement was far from the "significant advancement" needed.

"Negotiators delivered some small advances in the proper course, but given the magnitude of the climate crisis, it has not met the occasion," cautioned one policy director.

This limited deal might have been the best attainable, given the international tensions – including a American leader who ignored the talks and remains aligned with oil and coal, the growing influence of nationalist politics, ongoing conflicts in various areas, unacceptable degrees of inequality, and global economic volatility.

"The climate arsonists – the fossil fuel giants – were ultimately in the focus at Cop30," says one policy convener. "This represents progress on that. The platform is open. Now we must transform it into a genuine solution to a safer world."

Major disagreements revealed

Even as nations were able to applaud the gavelling through of the deal, Cop30 also highlighted deep fissures in the sole international mechanism for confronting the climate crisis.

"International summits are consensus-based, and in a period of global disagreements, agreement is increasingly difficult to reach," stated one senior UN official. "We should not suggest that these talks has provided all that is needed. The disparity between where we are and what evidence necessitates remains alarmingly large."

If the world is to avoid the most severe impacts of climate crisis, the international negotiations alone will not be nearly enough.