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When dawn crept over the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, negotiators remained trapped in a enclosed conference room, unaware whether it was day or night. Having spent 12 hours in tense discussions, with numerous ministers representing multiple blocs of countries from the poorest nations to the richest economies.

Patience wore thin, the air thick as exhausted delegates confronted the harsh reality: they would not reach a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The 30th UN climate conference hovered near the brink of abject failure.

The major obstacle: Fossil fuels

Scientific evidence has shown for nearly a century, the carbon dioxide produced by consuming fossil fuels is increasing temperatures on our planet to critical levels.

However, during more than three decades of regular climate meetings, the urgent need to cease fossil fuel use has been referenced only once – in a agreement made two years ago at the Dubai climate summit to "shift from fossil fuels". Delegates from the Middle Eastern nations, Russia, and several other countries were resolved this would not occur another time.

Mounting support for change

At the same time, a expanding group of countries were equally determined that advancement on this issue was vitally needed. They had developed a proposal that was attracting expanding support and made it evident they were prepared to stand their ground.

Less wealthy nations urgently needed to make progress on securing funding support to help them cope with the increasingly severe impacts of environmental crises.

Critical moment

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

The critical development happened through discussions with Saudi Arabia. Near 6am, key negotiators split from the main group to hold a confidential discussion with the lead Saudi negotiator. They urged wording that would subtly reference the global commitment to "shift from fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Surprising consensus

As opposed to explicitly namechecking fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the Dubai agreement". After consideration, the Saudi delegation unexpectedly approved the wording.

Delegates showed visible relief. Applause rang out. The settlement was done.

With what became known as the "Brazil agreement", the world took a modest advance towards the systematic reduction of fossil fuels – a hesitant, inadequate step that will scarcely affect the climate's ongoing trajectory towards catastrophe. But nevertheless a important shift from complete stagnation.

Important aspects of the agreement

• Alongside the indirect reference in the legally agreed text, countries will commence creating a roadmap to gradually eliminate fossil fuels
• This will be mostly a non-binding program led by Brazil that will report back next year
• Addressing the required reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to not exceed the 1.5C limit was also put off to next year
• Developing countries obtained a tripling to $120bn of annual finance to help them adapt to the impacts of environmental crises
• This sum will not be delivered in full until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "just transition mechanism" to help people working in fossil fuel sectors transition to the clean economy

Mixed reactions

While our planet teeters on the brink of climate "tipping points" that could devastate environments and throw whole regions into chaos, the agreement was insufficient as the "significant advancement" needed.

"Cop30 gave us some modest progress in the correct path, but given the magnitude of the climate crisis, it has not met the occasion," stated one policy director.

This limited deal might have been the best attainable, given the political challenges – including a American leader who ignored the talks and remains committed to oil and coal, the growing influence of nationalist politics, persistent fighting in multiple regions, unacceptable degrees of inequality, and global economic volatility.

"Major polluters – the fossil fuel giants – were ultimately in the crosshairs at these negotiations," says one environmental advocate. "This represents progress on that. The opportunity is accessible. Now we must transform it into a real fire escape to a more secure planet."

Significant divisions revealed

Although nations were able to celebrate the gavelling through of the deal, Cop30 also highlighted major disagreements in the sole international mechanism for confronting the climate crisis.

"International summits are agreement-dependent, and in a time of global disagreements, agreement is ever harder to reach," observed one senior UN official. "I cannot pretend that these talks has achieved complete success that is needed. The difference between our current position and what evidence necessitates remains concerningly substantial."

If the world is to avoid the worst ravages of climate breakdown, the global discussions alone will prove insufficient.