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As dawn was breaking the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, negotiators remained stuck in a windowless conference room, unaware whether it was day or night. For more than 12 hours in strained discussions, with scores ministers representing various coalitions of countries from the least developed nations to the wealthiest economies.

Frustration mounted, the air stifling 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 complete breakdown.

The major obstacle: Fossil fuels

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

However, during over three decades of regular climate meetings, the essential necessity to halt fossil fuel use has been mentioned only once – in a agreement made two years ago at Cop28 to "transition away from fossil fuels". Officials from the Arab Group, Russia, and a few other countries were resolved this would not happen again.

Mounting support for change

Meanwhile, a growing number of countries were equally determined that progress on this issue was urgently necessary. They had created a proposal that was attracting growing support and made it evident they were ready to dig in.

Less wealthy nations desperately wanted to move forward on securing financial assistance to help them manage the growing impacts of climate disasters.

Turning point

In the pre-dawn period of Saturday, some delegates were willing to leave and cause breakdown. "We were close for us," remarked one government representative. "I was ready to walk away."

The critical development occurred through negotiations with Saudi Arabia. Near 6am, principal delegates split from the main group to hold a private conversation with the chief Saudi negotiator. They urged language that would subtly reference the global commitment to "transition away from fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Unanticipated resolution

Rather than explicitly referencing fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the UAE consensus". Upon deliberation, the Saudi delegation unforeseeably approved the wording.

Delegates collapsed into relief. Applause rang out. The deal 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, limited step that will minimally impact the climate's ongoing trajectory towards disaster. But nevertheless a notable change from total inaction.

Major components of the agreement

• Alongside the oblique commitment in the legally agreed text, countries will commence creating a roadmap to phase out fossil fuels
• This will be primarily a non-binding program led by Brazil that will deliver findings next year
• Addressing the necessary cuts in greenhouse gas emissions to not exceed the 1.5C limit was likewise deferred to next year
• Developing countries obtained a tripling to $120bn of regular financial support to help them cope with the impacts of climate disasters
• This funding will not be delivered in full until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "equitable change process" to help people working in polluting businesses transition to the renewable industry

Differing opinions

With global conditions teeters on the brink of climate "critical thresholds" that could destroy ecosystems and plunge whole regions into crisis, the agreement was not the "significant advancement" needed.

"Cop30 gave us some modest progress in the right direction, but given the severity of the climate crisis, it has failed to rise to the occasion," stated one environmental analyst.

This flawed deal might have been the best attainable, given the political challenges – including a American leader who avoided the talks and remains aligned with oil and coal, the rising tide of rightwing populism, persistent fighting in various areas, unacceptable degrees of inequality, and global economic volatility.

"Fossil fuel corporations – the oil and gas companies – were ultimately in the focus at Cop30," says one environmental advocate. "We have crossed a threshold on that. The opportunity is available. Now we must turn it into a real fire escape to a more secure planet."

Deep fissures revealed

Although nations were able to welcome the official adoption of the deal, Cop30 also exposed deep fissures in the only global process for tackling the climate crisis.

"International summits are agreement-dependent, and in a period of international tensions, consensus is progressively challenging to reach," observed one senior UN official. "I cannot pretend that Cop30 has provided all that is needed. The difference between our current position and what evidence necessitates remains dangerously wide."

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