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While dawn was breaking the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, delegates remained stuck in a airless conference room, unaware whether it was day or night. They had been 12 hours in tense discussions, with numerous ministers representing multiple blocs of countries from the poorest nations to the wealthiest economies.

Tempers were short, the air thick as exhausted delegates faced up to the sobering reality: they would not reach a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The 30th UN climate conference teetered on 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 heating up our planet to alarming levels.

However, during over three decades of regular climate meetings, the urgent need 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 Arab Group, Russia, and several other countries were adamant this would not occur another time.

Growing momentum for change

Meanwhile, a increasing coalition of countries were equally determined that advancement on this issue was vitally needed. They had formulated a plan that was attracting expanding support and made it clear they were willing to dig in.

Less wealthy nations strongly sought to make progress on securing funding support to help them address the increasingly severe impacts of extreme weather.

Turning point

By the early hours of Saturday, some delegates were ready to walk out and cause breakdown. "It was on the edge for us," commented one government representative. "I was ready to walk away."

The breakthrough happened through talks with Saudi Arabia. Shortly after 6am, senior representatives separated from the main group to hold a closed-door meeting with the head Saudi negotiator. They urged text that would obliquely recognise the global commitment to "move beyond fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Unexpected agreement

Rather than explicitly referencing fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the Dubai agreement". Upon deliberation, the Saudi delegation unexpectedly accepted the wording.

The room showed visible relief. Applause rang out. The agreement was completed.

With what became known as the "Brazil agreement", the world took a modest advance towards the systematic reduction of fossil fuels – a faltering, insufficient step that will scarcely affect the climate's steady march towards crisis. But nevertheless a important shift from absolute paralysis.

Important aspects of the agreement

• Alongside the subtle acknowledgment in the legally agreed text, countries will commence creating a roadmap to phase out fossil fuels
• This will be largely 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 similarly postponed to next year
• Developing countries achieved a tripling to $120bn of yearly funding to help them adapt to the impacts of climate disasters
• This funding will not be completely provided until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "just transition mechanism" to help people working in high-carbon industries move toward the sustainable sector

Mixed reactions

As the world teeters on the brink of climate "critical thresholds" that could destroy ecosystems and force whole regions into disorder, the agreement was not the "major breakthrough" needed.

"Negotiators delivered some baby steps in the proper course, but given the scale of the climate crisis, it has not met the occasion," warned one climate expert.

This imperfect deal might have been all that was possible, given the geopolitical headwinds – including a US president who avoided the talks and remains committed to oil and coal, the rising tide of rightwing populism, continuing wars in various areas, unacceptable degrees of inequality, and global economic volatility.

"Fossil fuel corporations – the oil and gas companies – were finally in the crosshairs at Cop30," says one policy convener. "There is no turning back on that. The platform is available. Now we must transform it into a genuine solution to a safer world."

Significant divisions revealed

Even as nations were able to applaud the gavelling through of the deal, Cop30 also revealed major disagreements in the only global process for confronting the climate crisis.

"Climate conferences are consensus-based, and in a era of global disagreements, consensus is progressively challenging to reach," observed one international diplomat. "I cannot pretend that this summit has delivered everything that is needed. The gap between present circumstances and what science demands remains dangerously wide."

Should the world is to avoid the worst ravages of climate crisis, the international negotiations alone will fall far short.