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While dawn crept over the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, representatives remained stuck in a enclosed conference room, uncertain whether it was day or night. For more than 12 hours in strained discussions, with numerous ministers representing 17 groups of countries ranging from the most vulnerable nations to the most developed economies.

Tempers were short, the air thick as weary delegates acknowledged the harsh reality: they would not reach a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The 30th UN climate conference faced the brink of complete breakdown.

The major obstacle: Fossil fuels

Scientific evidence has shown for well over a century, the carbon dioxide produced by consuming fossil fuels is increasing temperatures on our planet to dangerous levels.

Nevertheless, during over three decades of yearly climate meetings, the crucial requirement to stop 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". Delegates from the Arab Group, Russia, and a few other countries were determined this would not happen again.

Growing momentum for change

Meanwhile, a increasing coalition of countries were just as committed that movement on this issue was vitally needed. They had developed a initiative that was attracting expanding support and made it apparent they were prepared to dig in.

Emerging economies desperately wanted to move forward on securing financial assistance to help them manage the already disastrous impacts of climate disasters.

Turning point

In the pre-dawn period of Saturday, some delegates were ready to walk out and force a collapse. "The situation was precarious for us," remarked one national delegate. "I was prepared to walk away."

The critical development happened through talks with Saudi Arabia. Shortly after 6am, key negotiators split from the main group to hold a private conversation with the lead Saudi negotiator. They urged wording that would indirectly acknowledge the global commitment to "move beyond fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Surprising consensus

As opposed to explicitly mentioning fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the Dubai agreement". Following reflection, the Saudi delegation unforeseeably approved the wording.

Participants collapsed into relief. Applause rang out. 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 scarcely affect the climate's ongoing trajectory towards crisis. But nevertheless a important shift from complete stagnation.

Major components of the agreement

• In addition to the indirect reference in the legally agreed text, countries will commence creating a plan to gradually eliminate fossil fuels
• This will be mostly a voluntary initiative led by Brazil that will report back next year
• Addressing the essential decreases in greenhouse gas emissions to stay within the 1.5C limit was similarly postponed to next year
• Developing countries secured a threefold increase to $120bn of annual finance to help them manage 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 polluting businesses shift to the renewable industry

Mixed reactions

As the world hovers near the brink of climate "irreversible changes" that could eliminate habitats and force whole regions into disorder, the agreement was not the "significant advancement" needed.

"The summit provided some modest progress in the proper course, but in light of the severity of the climate crisis, it has fallen short of the occasion," cautioned one climate expert.

This imperfect deal might have been all that was possible, given the international tensions – including a Washington administration who ignored the talks and remains committed to oil and coal, the increasing presence of conservative movements, continuing wars in different locations, unacceptable degrees of inequality, and global economic uncertainty.

"The climate arsonists – the oil and gas companies – were ultimately in the spotlight at the climate summit," says one policy convener. "We have crossed a threshold on that. The political space is accessible. Now we must transform it into a actual pathway to a safer world."

Major disagreements revealed

Even as nations were able to celebrate the official adoption of the deal, Cop30 also exposed significant divisions in the sole international mechanism for tackling the climate crisis.

"UN negotiations are consensus-based, and in a era of geopolitical divides, agreement is ever harder to reach," stated one senior UN official. "It would be dishonest to claim that these talks has achieved complete success that is needed. The gap between where we are and what research requires remains alarmingly large."

When the world is to prevent the most severe impacts of climate collapse, the global discussions alone will fall far short.