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When dawn illuminated the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, negotiators remained trapped in a windowless conference room, oblivious whether it was day or night. They had been 12 hours in strained discussions, with dozens ministers representing various coalitions of countries from the poorest nations to the wealthiest economies.

Tempers were short, the air heavy as exhausted delegates acknowledged the sobering reality: they were unlikely to achieve a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The latest global climate summit faced the brink of abject failure.

The major obstacle: Fossil fuels

Scientific evidence has shown for more than a century, the CO2 emissions produced by utilizing fossil fuels is warming our planet to alarming levels.

However, during more than three decades of regular climate meetings, the essential necessity to cease fossil fuel use has been referenced only once – in a decision made two years ago at the Dubai climate summit to "move beyond fossil fuels". Representatives from the Middle Eastern nations, Russia, and several other countries were adamant this would not occur another time.

Mounting support for change

Meanwhile, a increasing coalition of countries were similarly resolved that progress on this issue was vitally needed. They had developed a initiative that was attracting expanding support and made it apparent they were prepared to hold firm.

Emerging economies desperately wanted to make progress on securing financial assistance to help them manage the increasingly severe impacts of environmental crises.

Breaking point

In the pre-dawn period of Saturday, some delegates were ready to withdraw and force a collapse. "It was on the edge for us," remarked one national delegate. "I was prepared to walk away."

The breakthrough happened through negotiations with Saudi Arabia. Near 6am, principal delegates split from the main group to hold a closed-door meeting with the head Saudi negotiator. They encouraged wording that would subtly reference the global commitment to "shift from fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Surprising consensus

Rather than explicitly namechecking fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the UAE consensus". After consideration, the Saudi delegation unforeseeably accepted the wording.

The room collapsed into relief. Cheers erupted. The deal was finalized.

With what became known as the "Brazil agreement", the world took a modest advance towards the phaseout of fossil fuels – a hesitant, insufficient step that will minimally impact the climate's continued progression towards disaster. But nevertheless a significant departure from total inaction.

Major components 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 primarily a voluntary initiative led by Brazil that will report back next year
• Addressing the essential decreases in greenhouse gas emissions to remain below the 1.5C limit was likewise deferred to next year
• Developing countries secured a tripling to $120bn of regular financial support to help them adapt to the impacts of extreme weather
• This funding will not be fully available until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "fair adjustment program" to help people working in high-carbon industries move toward the renewable industry

Varied responses

With global conditions teeters on the brink of climate "irreversible changes" that could eliminate habitats and plunge whole regions into chaos, the agreement was far from the "significant advancement" needed.

"Cop30 gave us some modest progress in the right direction, but considering the scale of the climate crisis, it has fallen short of the occasion," stated one climate expert.

This limited deal might have been the best attainable, given the political challenges – including a Washington administration who shunned the talks and remains committed to oil and coal, the rising tide of nationalist politics, continuing wars in various areas, intolerable levels of inequality, and global economic uncertainty.

"Major polluters – the oil and gas companies – were ultimately in the focus at these negotiations," comments one climate activist. "There is no turning back on that. The political space is open. Now we must convert it to a genuine solution to a more secure planet."

Deep fissures revealed

While nations were able to welcome the gavelling through of the deal, Cop30 also revealed significant divisions in the only global process for tackling the climate crisis.

"International summits are consensus-based, and in a time of international tensions, agreement is progressively challenging to reach," stated one global leader. "We should not suggest that this summit has achieved complete success that is needed. The gap between our current position and what evidence necessitates remains concerningly substantial."

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