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

Tempers were short, the air heavy as sweaty delegates faced up to the harsh reality: they would not reach a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The international climate negotiations hovered near the brink of abject failure.

The major obstacle: Fossil fuels

Scientific evidence has shown for nearly a century, the CO2 emissions produced by consuming fossil fuels is heating up our planet to dangerous levels.

Nevertheless, during over three decades of yearly climate meetings, the crucial requirement to cease fossil fuel use has been addressed only once – in a agreement made two years ago at the Dubai climate summit to "move beyond fossil fuels". Representatives from the Middle Eastern nations, Russia, and multiple other countries were adamant this would not occur another time.

Mounting support for change

At the same time, a expanding group of countries were equally determined that movement on this issue was crucially important. They had created a proposal that was earning expanding support and made it evident they were willing to stand their ground.

Less wealthy nations urgently needed to make progress on securing economic resources to help them manage the already disastrous impacts of climate disasters.

Critical moment

During the night of Saturday, some delegates were ready to walk out and force a collapse. "We were close for us," stated one energy minister. "I was ready to walk away."

The breakthrough came through talks with Saudi Arabia. Shortly after 6am, principal delegates left the main group to hold a closed-door meeting 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.

Surprising consensus

As opposed to explicitly namechecking fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the UAE consensus". Upon deliberation, the Saudi delegation unexpectedly accepted the wording.

The room expressed relief. Applause rang out. The deal was completed.

With what became known as the "Brazil agreement", the world took another small step towards the gradual elimination of fossil fuels – a hesitant, insufficient step that will barely interrupt the climate's ongoing trajectory towards disaster. But nevertheless a important shift from total inaction.

Major components of the agreement

• In addition to the oblique commitment in the official document, countries will commence creating a plan to systematically reduce fossil fuels
• This will be mostly a voluntary initiative led by Brazil that will deliver findings next year
• Addressing the necessary cuts in greenhouse gas emissions to stay within the 1.5C limit was also put off to next year
• Developing countries secured a threefold increase to $120bn of annual finance to help them manage the impacts of environmental crises
• This amount will not be completely provided until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "equitable change process" to help people working in fossil fuel sectors transition to the sustainable sector

Differing opinions

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

"Cop30 gave us some small advances in the proper course, but considering the severity of the climate crisis, it has failed to rise to the occasion," stated one policy director.

This limited deal might have been the best attainable, given the political challenges – including a US president who ignored the talks and remains aligned with oil and coal, the growing influence of conservative movements, persistent fighting in different locations, intolerable levels of inequality, and global economic uncertainty.

"Major polluters – the energy conglomerates – were finally in the crosshairs at the climate summit," says one climate activist. "This represents progress on that. The platform is accessible. Now we must transform it into a genuine solution to a protected environment."

Deep fissures revealed

Even as nations were able to celebrate the gavelling through of the deal, Cop30 also exposed deep fissures in the sole international mechanism for confronting the climate crisis.

"Climate conferences are agreement-dependent, and in a period of geopolitical divides, consensus is increasingly difficult to reach," commented one international diplomat. "I cannot pretend that these talks has provided all that is needed. The gap between where we are and what research requires remains concerningly substantial."

When the world is to avert the worst ravages of climate crisis, the global discussions alone will prove insufficient.