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As dawn illuminated the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, representatives remained trapped in a airless conference room, oblivious whether it was day or night. For more than 12 hours in difficult discussions, with dozens ministers representing 17 groups of countries ranging from the least developed nations to the richest economies.

Patience wore thin, the air heavy as weary delegates acknowledged the grim reality: they would not reach a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The latest global climate summit faced the brink of complete breakdown.

The central impasse: Fossil fuels

Scientific evidence has shown for nearly a century, the carbon dioxide produced by utilizing fossil fuels is heating up our planet to alarming levels.

Yet, during over three decades of annual climate meetings, the crucial requirement to stop fossil fuel use has been mentioned only once – in a resolution made two years ago at previous UN climate talks to "move beyond fossil fuels". Representatives from the Gulf states, Russia, and a few other countries were adamant this would not occur another time.

Increasing pressure for change

Meanwhile, a growing number of countries were equally determined that advancement on this issue was vitally needed. They had developed a plan that was earning growing support and made it evident they were willing to stand their ground.

Developing countries desperately wanted to move forward on securing financial assistance to help them cope with the growing impacts of climate disasters.

Critical moment

During the night of Saturday, some delegates were prepared to withdraw and trigger failure. "We were close for us," remarked one energy minister. "I was ready to walk away."

The critical development occurred through talks with Saudi Arabia. Near 6am, senior representatives separated from the main group to hold a private conversation with the chief Saudi negotiator. They urged wording that would obliquely recognise the global commitment to "transition away from 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". Following reflection, the Saudi delegation surprisingly approved the wording.

Delegates showed visible relief. Applause rang out. The agreement was done.

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

Major components of the agreement

• Complementing the indirect reference in the legally agreed text, countries will commence creating a roadmap to systematically reduce fossil fuels
• This will be mostly a non-binding program led by Brazil that will report back next year
• Addressing the required reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to remain below the 1.5C limit was likewise deferred to next year
• Developing countries obtained a tripling to $120bn of yearly funding to help them cope with the impacts of extreme weather
• This amount will not be completely provided until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "just transition mechanism" to help people working in fossil fuel sectors transition to the clean economy

Varied responses

With global conditions hovers near the brink of climate "tipping points" that could devastate environments and plunge whole regions into chaos, the agreement was not the "major breakthrough" needed.

"Cop30 gave us some small advances in the right direction, but considering the magnitude of the climate crisis, it has not met the occasion," cautioned one environmental analyst.

This flawed deal might have been the maximum achievable, given the international tensions – including a Washington administration who shunned the talks and remains wedded to oil and coal, the rising tide of nationalist politics, ongoing conflicts in different locations, extreme measures of inequality, and global economic volatility.

"Major polluters – the fossil fuel giants – were ultimately in the spotlight at the climate summit," says one environmental advocate. "We have crossed a threshold on that. The platform is available. Now we must turn it into a real fire escape to a safer world."

Deep fissures revealed

Although nations were able to welcome the official adoption of the deal, Cop30 also exposed major disagreements in the sole international mechanism for tackling the climate crisis.

"UN negotiations are unanimity-required, and in a time of geopolitical divides, consensus is progressively challenging to reach," commented one international diplomat. "It would be dishonest to claim that Cop30 has provided all that is needed. The gap between our current position and what research requires remains dangerously wide."

If the world is to avert the gravest consequences of climate breakdown, the UN climate talks alone will fall far short.