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When dawn was breaking the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, delegates remained confined in a airless conference room, uncertain whether it was day or night. Having spent 12 hours in tense discussions, with numerous ministers representing various coalitions of countries including the least developed nations to the richest economies.

Patience wore thin, the air heavy as weary delegates acknowledged the sobering reality: they would not reach a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The latest global climate summit hovered near the brink of abject failure.

The major obstacle: Fossil fuels

Scientific evidence has shown for well over a century, the greenhouse gases produced by utilizing fossil fuels is increasing temperatures on our planet to critical levels.

Nevertheless, during over three decades of yearly climate meetings, the crucial requirement to stop fossil fuel use has been mentioned only once – in a decision made two years ago at Cop28 to "transition away from fossil fuels". Officials from the Gulf states, Russia, and a few other countries were adamant this would not be repeated.

Mounting support for change

Meanwhile, a growing number of countries were equally determined that progress on this issue was vitally needed. They had created a plan that was gathering increasing support and made it clear they were willing to hold firm.

Developing countries desperately wanted to advance on securing economic resources to help them manage the growing impacts of environmental crises.

Turning point

By the early hours of Saturday, some delegates were willing to leave and force a collapse. "It was on the edge for us," remarked one government representative. "I was ready to walk away."

The critical development occurred through talks with Saudi Arabia. Around 6am, principal delegates split from the main group to hold a closed-door meeting with the head Saudi negotiator. They urged language that would subtly reference the global commitment to "transition away from fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Unexpected agreement

As opposed to explicitly mentioning fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the previous commitment". Following reflection, the Saudi delegation unforeseeably accepted the wording.

The room expressed relief. Cheers erupted. The deal was completed.

With what became known as the "Brazil agreement", the world took an incremental move towards the gradual elimination of fossil fuels – a uncertain, insufficient step that will minimally impact the climate's ongoing trajectory towards crisis. But nevertheless a important shift from complete stagnation.

Key elements of the agreement

• Alongside the subtle acknowledgment in the official document, countries will start developing a roadmap to phase out fossil fuels
• This will be largely a optional undertaking led by Brazil that will deliver findings next year
• Addressing the required reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to stay within the 1.5C limit was likewise deferred to next year
• Developing countries achieved a tripling to $120bn of annual finance to help them manage the impacts of extreme weather
• This amount will not be delivered in full until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "fair adjustment program" to help people working in high-carbon industries shift to the renewable industry

Varied responses

As the world hovers near the brink of climate "critical thresholds" that could eliminate habitats and force whole regions into chaos, the agreement was insufficient as the "giant leap" needed.

"Negotiators delivered some baby steps in the proper course, but considering the scale of the climate crisis, it has failed to rise to the occasion," cautioned one climate expert.

This flawed deal might have been all that was possible, given the international tensions – including a Washington administration who avoided the talks and remains committed to oil and coal, the growing influence of conservative movements, persistent fighting in multiple regions, intolerable levels of inequality, and global economic uncertainty.

"Fossil fuel corporations – the energy conglomerates – were at last in the focus at these negotiations," comments one policy convener. "We have crossed a threshold on that. The platform is available. Now we must transform it into a actual pathway to a protected environment."

Major disagreements revealed

Although nations were able to applaud the gavelling through of the deal, Cop30 also exposed deep fissures in the sole international mechanism for addressing the climate crisis.

"International summits are unanimity-required, and in a time of international tensions, agreement is ever harder to reach," observed one global leader. "It would be dishonest to claim that this summit has provided all that is needed. The disparity between our current position and what evidence necessitates remains dangerously wide."

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