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While dawn was breaking the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, representatives remained trapped in a windowless conference room, oblivious whether it was day or night. They had been 12 hours in difficult discussions, with scores ministers representing multiple blocs of countries ranging from the most vulnerable nations to the richest economies.

Frustration mounted, the air stifling as weary delegates acknowledged the harsh reality: they were unlikely to achieve a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The 30th UN climate conference teetered on the brink of complete breakdown.

The sticking point: Fossil fuels

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

However, during over three decades of annual climate meetings, the essential necessity to cease fossil fuel use has been addressed only once – in a resolution made two years ago at previous UN climate talks to "transition away from fossil fuels". Delegates from the Gulf states, Russia, and several other countries were adamant this would not happen again.

Increasing pressure for change

At the same time, a increasing coalition of countries were similarly resolved that advancement on this issue was urgently necessary. They had formulated a plan that was gathering increasing support and made it apparent they were ready to hold firm.

Less wealthy nations desperately wanted to make progress on securing economic resources to help them cope with the increasingly severe impacts of climate disasters.

Breaking point

During the night of Saturday, some delegates were prepared to withdraw and trigger failure. "The situation was precarious for us," remarked one government representative. "I was prepared to walk away."

The pivotal moment happened through discussions with Saudi Arabia. Around 6am, key negotiators split from the main group to hold a confidential discussion with the chief Saudi negotiator. They encouraged language that would obliquely recognise the global commitment to "move beyond fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Unexpected agreement

Instead of explicitly namechecking fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the UAE consensus". Upon deliberation, the Saudi delegation unexpectedly approved the wording.

Participants showed visible relief. Cheers erupted. The deal was completed.

With what became known as the "Brazil agreement", the world took an incremental move towards the phaseout of fossil fuels – a faltering, limited step that will barely interrupt the climate's continued progression towards catastrophe. But nevertheless a notable change from absolute paralysis.

Key elements of the agreement

• In addition to the subtle acknowledgment in the official document, 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 essential decreases in greenhouse gas emissions to stay within the 1.5C limit was likewise deferred to next year
• Developing countries obtained a tripling to $120bn of regular financial support to help them manage the impacts of environmental crises
• This funding will not be fully available until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "equitable change process" to help people working in fossil fuel sectors move toward the renewable industry

Differing opinions

With global conditions approaches the brink of climate "irreversible changes" that could destroy ecosystems and plunge whole regions into crisis, the agreement was far from the "giant leap" needed.

"Cop30 gave us some small advances in the right direction, but considering the severity of the climate crisis, it has failed to rise to the occasion," stated one climate expert.

This imperfect deal might have been the best attainable, given the international tensions – including a US president who avoided the talks and remains aligned with oil and coal, the increasing presence of nationalist politics, persistent fighting in different locations, intolerable levels of inequality, and global economic instability.

"Fossil fuel corporations – the oil and gas companies – were ultimately in the focus at Cop30," comments one environmental advocate. "We have crossed a threshold on that. The platform is open. Now we must convert it to a actual pathway to a safer world."

Deep fissures revealed

While nations were able to applaud the gavelling through of the deal, Cop30 also exposed deep fissures in the primary worldwide framework for tackling the climate crisis.

"International summits are agreement-dependent, and in a era of geopolitical divides, agreement is progressively challenging to reach," observed one international diplomat. "I cannot pretend that this summit has provided all that is needed. The difference between where we are and what evidence necessitates remains dangerously wide."

Should the world is to avoid the gravest consequences of climate breakdown, the global discussions alone will fall far short.