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When dawn illuminated the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, delegates remained stuck in a windowless conference room, unaware whether it was day or night. Having spent 12 hours in tense discussions, with scores ministers representing 17 groups of countries from the most vulnerable nations to the wealthiest economies.

Patience wore thin, the air thick as sweaty delegates confronted the grim reality: they would not reach a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The latest global climate summit teetered on the brink of complete breakdown.

The major obstacle: Fossil fuels

Research has demonstrated for more than a century, the greenhouse gases produced by utilizing fossil fuels is increasing temperatures on our planet to alarming levels.

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

Mounting support for change

Simultaneously, a expanding group of countries were equally determined that movement on this issue was crucially important. They had formulated a plan that was gathering increasing support and made it clear they were prepared to stand their ground.

Emerging economies strongly sought to advance on securing funding support to help them address the growing impacts of extreme weather.

Critical moment

During the night of Saturday, some delegates were ready to walk out and cause breakdown. "We were close for us," stated one government representative. "I was ready to walk away."

The critical development happened through talks with Saudi Arabia. Near 6am, principal delegates left the main group to hold a private conversation with the head Saudi negotiator. They encouraged wording that would obliquely recognise the global commitment to "shift from fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Unanticipated resolution

Instead of explicitly namechecking fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the Dubai agreement". Following reflection, the Saudi delegation unexpectedly accepted the wording.

Delegates collapsed into relief. Cheers erupted. The settlement was completed.

With what became known as the "Amazon accord", the world took an incremental move towards the phaseout of fossil fuels – a hesitant, insufficient step that will barely interrupt the climate's continued progression towards catastrophe. But nevertheless a significant departure from total inaction.

Important aspects of the agreement

• Complementing the subtle acknowledgment in the official document, countries will start developing a roadmap to gradually eliminate fossil fuels
• This will be primarily a optional undertaking led by Brazil that will report back next year
• Addressing the required reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to stay within the 1.5C limit was also put off to next year
• Developing countries obtained a threefold increase 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 "just transition mechanism" to help people working in polluting businesses shift to the clean economy

Mixed reactions

While our planet approaches the brink of climate "tipping points" that could destroy ecosystems and throw whole regions into chaos, the agreement was not the "giant leap" needed.

"Negotiators delivered some modest progress in the proper course, but given the magnitude of the climate crisis, it has fallen short of the occasion," cautioned one policy director.

This imperfect deal might have been the best attainable, given the geopolitical headwinds – including a US president who ignored the talks and remains wedded to oil and coal, the increasing presence of nationalist politics, continuing wars in multiple regions, unacceptable degrees of inequality, and global economic uncertainty.

"Major polluters – the oil and gas companies – were finally in the spotlight at the climate summit," comments one policy convener. "We have crossed a threshold on that. The opportunity is accessible. Now we must convert it to a genuine solution to a more secure planet."

Significant divisions revealed

Even as nations were able to applaud the formal approval of the deal, Cop30 also exposed deep fissures in the primary worldwide framework for addressing the climate crisis.

"UN negotiations are agreement-dependent, and in a era of international tensions, unanimity is increasingly difficult to reach," observed one senior UN official. "We should not suggest that Cop30 has provided all that is needed. The gap between present circumstances and what science demands remains alarmingly large."

When the world is to avert the worst ravages of climate breakdown, the global discussions alone will fall far short.