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As dawn crept over the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, representatives remained stuck in a airless conference room, unaware whether it was day or night. Having spent 12 hours in difficult discussions, with scores ministers representing multiple blocs of countries including the least developed nations to the wealthiest economies.

Patience wore thin, the air heavy as exhausted delegates faced up to the harsh reality: they would not reach a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The international climate negotiations faced the brink of complete breakdown.

The central impasse: Fossil fuels

Scientific evidence has shown for nearly a century, the CO2 emissions produced by consuming fossil fuels is increasing temperatures on our planet to alarming levels.

However, during more than three decades of annual climate meetings, the urgent need to halt fossil fuel use has been addressed only once – in a resolution made two years ago at Cop28 to "shift from fossil fuels". Representatives from the Gulf states, Russia, and a few other countries were adamant this would not occur another time.

Mounting support for change

Meanwhile, a increasing coalition of countries were similarly resolved that movement on this issue was vitally needed. They had formulated a initiative that was earning increasing support and made it clear they were prepared to stand their ground.

Developing countries strongly sought to advance on securing financial assistance to help them manage the growing impacts of extreme weather.

Turning point

During the night of Saturday, some delegates were ready to leave and trigger failure. "We were close for us," commented one national delegate. "I was prepared to walk away."

The breakthrough happened through negotiations with Saudi Arabia. Near 6am, principal delegates left the main group to hold a closed-door meeting with the lead Saudi negotiator. They urged text that would indirectly acknowledge the global commitment to "shift from fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Surprising consensus

Instead of explicitly referencing fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the UAE consensus". Following reflection, the Saudi delegation surprisingly approved the wording.

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

With what became known as the "Brazil agreement", the world took an incremental move towards the systematic reduction of fossil fuels – a uncertain, inadequate step that will barely interrupt the climate's continued progression towards crisis. But nevertheless a important shift from total inaction.

Important aspects of the agreement

• Complementing the oblique commitment in the legally agreed text, countries will begin work a plan to phase out fossil fuels
• This will be largely a voluntary initiative led by Brazil that will deliver findings next year
• Addressing the essential decreases 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 regular financial support to help them manage the impacts of climate disasters
• This sum will not be fully available until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "fair adjustment program" to help people working in polluting businesses transition to the clean economy

Varied responses

As the world teeters on the brink of climate "irreversible changes" that could devastate environments and plunge whole regions into disorder, the agreement was insufficient as the "significant advancement" needed.

"Cop30 gave us some modest progress in the correct path, but in light of the severity of the climate crisis, it has fallen short of the occasion," stated one climate expert.

This imperfect deal might have been the best attainable, given the political challenges – including a American leader who ignored the talks and remains aligned with oil and coal, the growing influence of conservative movements, persistent fighting in multiple regions, extreme measures of inequality, and global economic volatility.

"Fossil fuel corporations – the fossil fuel giants – were finally in the focus at these negotiations," says one climate activist. "There is no turning back on that. The platform is available. Now we must transform it into a real fire escape to a protected environment."

Deep fissures revealed

Even as nations were able to welcome the gavelling through of the deal, Cop30 also highlighted significant divisions in the primary worldwide framework for addressing the climate crisis.

"International summits are agreement-dependent, and in a time of international tensions, unanimity is increasingly difficult to reach," commented one senior UN official. "I cannot pretend that Cop30 has provided all that is needed. The difference between our current position and what science demands remains concerningly substantial."

If the world is to avoid the worst ravages of climate collapse, the UN climate talks alone will prove insufficient.