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As dawn illuminated the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, representatives remained stuck in a enclosed conference room, unaware whether it was day or night. For more than 12 hours in strained discussions, with scores ministers representing 17 groups of countries including the poorest nations to the richest economies.

Patience wore thin, the air thick as weary delegates faced up to the harsh reality: they would not reach a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The latest global climate summit hovered near the brink of complete breakdown.

The central impasse: Fossil fuels

Research has demonstrated for more than a century, the CO2 emissions produced by burning fossil fuels is heating up our planet to dangerous levels.

Yet, during more than three decades of regular climate meetings, the essential necessity to cease fossil fuel use has been mentioned only once – in a decision made two years ago at the Dubai climate summit to "shift from fossil fuels". Delegates from the Arab Group, Russia, and several other countries were adamant this would not happen again.

Growing momentum for change

Simultaneously, a expanding group of countries were just as committed that progress on this issue was crucially important. They had developed a plan that was gathering increasing support and made it evident they were willing to dig in.

Developing countries urgently needed to advance on securing financial assistance to help them manage the growing impacts of climate disasters.

Breaking point

During the night of Saturday, some delegates were willing to walk out and trigger failure. "The situation was precarious for us," stated one government representative. "I was prepared to walk away."

The critical development happened through talks with Saudi Arabia. Shortly after 6am, senior representatives left the main group to hold a confidential discussion with the head Saudi negotiator. They urged language that would obliquely recognise the global commitment to "shift from fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Unexpected agreement

As opposed to explicitly namechecking fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the Dubai agreement". Upon deliberation, the Saudi delegation surprisingly agreed to the wording.

The room expressed relief. Celebrations began. The settlement was completed.

With what became known as the "Brazil agreement", the world took another small step towards the phaseout of fossil fuels – a faltering, limited step that will barely interrupt the climate's continued progression towards catastrophe. But nevertheless a important shift from complete stagnation.

Key elements of the agreement

• Alongside the indirect reference in the legally agreed text, countries will commence creating a plan to gradually eliminate fossil fuels
• This will be mostly a optional undertaking led by Brazil that will provide updates 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 significant expansion to $120bn of annual finance to help them adapt to the impacts of extreme weather
• This funding will not be completely provided until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "equitable change process" to help people working in high-carbon industries move toward the clean economy

Mixed reactions

With global conditions teeters on the brink of climate "tipping points" that could eliminate habitats and throw whole regions into crisis, the agreement was far from the "significant advancement" needed.

"Negotiators delivered some modest progress in the proper course, but given the severity of the climate crisis, it has failed to rise to the occasion," stated one climate expert.

This limited deal might have been the maximum achievable, given the geopolitical headwinds – including a American leader who ignored the talks and remains committed to oil and coal, the rising tide of nationalist politics, continuing wars in different locations, extreme measures of inequality, and global economic instability.

"Fossil fuel corporations – the fossil fuel giants – were finally in the focus at these negotiations," comments one climate activist. "There is no turning back on that. The opportunity is available. Now we must turn it into a actual pathway to a more secure planet."

Deep fissures revealed

Although nations were able to welcome the gavelling through of the deal, Cop30 also highlighted deep fissures in the primary worldwide framework for tackling the climate crisis.

"UN negotiations are consensus-based, and in a era of international tensions, consensus is progressively challenging to reach," observed one international diplomat. "We should not suggest that these talks has achieved complete success that is needed. The difference between where we are and what science demands remains dangerously wide."

If the world is to avert the worst ravages of climate crisis, the UN climate talks alone will prove insufficient.