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While dawn crept over the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, negotiators remained trapped in a windowless conference room, uncertain whether it was day or night. For more than 12 hours in strained discussions, with scores ministers representing various coalitions of countries from the poorest nations to the wealthiest economies.

Patience wore thin, the air heavy as weary delegates faced up to the grim reality: there would not be a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The 30th UN climate conference hovered near the brink of complete breakdown.

The central impasse: Fossil fuels

Scientific evidence has shown for more than a century, the CO2 emissions produced by utilizing fossil fuels is heating up our planet to alarming levels.

Yet, during more than three decades of annual climate meetings, the essential necessity to cease fossil fuel use has been mentioned only once – in a decision made two years ago at previous UN climate talks to "shift from fossil fuels". Delegates from the Middle Eastern nations, Russia, and multiple other countries were adamant this would not occur another time.

Growing momentum for change

At the same time, a expanding group of countries were similarly resolved that movement on this issue was urgently necessary. They had formulated a proposal that was gathering growing support and made it clear they were prepared to hold firm.

Less wealthy nations desperately wanted to advance on securing financial assistance to help them manage the already disastrous impacts of extreme weather.

Breaking point

In the pre-dawn period of Saturday, some delegates were prepared to walk out and trigger failure. "It was on the edge for us," stated one energy minister. "I considered to walk away."

The pivotal moment happened through discussions with Saudi Arabia. Shortly after 6am, key negotiators separated from the main group to hold a closed-door meeting with the chief Saudi negotiator. They encouraged text that would obliquely recognise the global commitment to "move beyond fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Surprising consensus

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

The room showed visible relief. Applause rang out. The agreement was finalized.

With what became known as the "Brazil agreement", the world took a modest advance towards the gradual elimination of fossil fuels – a uncertain, limited step that will minimally impact the climate's steady march towards catastrophe. But nevertheless a important shift from total inaction.

Major components of the agreement

• Complementing the indirect reference in the official document, countries will begin work a framework to gradually eliminate 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 likewise deferred to next year
• Developing countries obtained a threefold increase to $120bn of yearly funding to help them adapt to the impacts of environmental crises
• This sum will not be delivered in full until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "fair adjustment program" to help people working in fossil fuel sectors shift to the sustainable sector

Varied responses

As the world teeters on the brink of climate "irreversible changes" that could eliminate habitats and plunge whole regions into crisis, the agreement was not the "major breakthrough" needed.

"Negotiators delivered some modest progress in the correct path, but in light of the scale of the climate crisis, it has not met the occasion," stated one climate expert.

This limited 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 rising tide of nationalist politics, continuing wars in various areas, intolerable levels of inequality, and global economic instability.

"Major polluters – the fossil fuel giants – were at last in the focus at these negotiations," comments one climate activist. "This represents progress on that. The platform is open. Now we must convert it to a real fire escape to a safer world."

Deep fissures revealed

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

"International summits are agreement-dependent, and in a period of geopolitical divides, agreement is progressively challenging to reach," observed one senior UN official. "It would be dishonest to claim that Cop30 has provided all that is needed. The disparity between our current position and what evidence necessitates remains dangerously wide."

When the world is to avoid the worst ravages of climate breakdown, the international negotiations alone will prove insufficient.