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As dawn illuminated the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, representatives remained stuck in a enclosed conference room, uncertain whether it was day or night. They had been 12 hours in tense discussions, with dozens ministers representing 17 groups of countries including the least developed nations to the most developed economies.

Patience wore thin, the air heavy as sweaty delegates faced up to the sobering reality: there would not be a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The international climate negotiations teetered on the brink of abject failure.

The central impasse: Fossil fuels

As science has told us for nearly a century, the greenhouse gases produced by utilizing fossil fuels is increasing temperatures on our planet to dangerous levels.

Nevertheless, during more than three decades of yearly climate meetings, the crucial requirement to stop fossil fuel use has been mentioned only once – in a resolution made two years ago at the Dubai climate summit to "move beyond fossil fuels". Officials from the Gulf states, Russia, and several other countries were adamant this would not be repeated.

Increasing pressure for change

At the same time, a increasing coalition of countries were similarly resolved that movement on this issue was urgently necessary. They had developed a plan that was earning increasing support and made it clear they were prepared to dig in.

Less wealthy nations desperately wanted to make progress on securing funding support to help them address the already disastrous impacts of climate disasters.

Breaking point

In the pre-dawn period of Saturday, some delegates were ready to walk out and cause breakdown. "We were close for us," remarked one national delegate. "I was ready to walk away."

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

Unanticipated resolution

Rather than explicitly mentioning fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the UAE consensus". Upon deliberation, the Saudi delegation unforeseeably accepted the wording.

Delegates collapsed into relief. Cheers erupted. The deal was done.

With what became known as the "Amazon accord", the world took another small step towards the phaseout of fossil fuels – a uncertain, inadequate step that will minimally impact the climate's continued progression towards disaster. But nevertheless a important shift from absolute paralysis.

Key elements of the agreement

• Alongside the subtle acknowledgment in the legally agreed text, countries will begin work 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 necessary cuts in greenhouse gas emissions to stay within the 1.5C limit was similarly postponed to next year
• Developing countries obtained a tripling to $120bn of yearly funding to help them adapt to the impacts of climate disasters
• This sum will not be fully available until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "equitable change process" to help people working in polluting businesses transition to the sustainable sector

Mixed reactions

As the world hovers near the brink of climate "critical thresholds" that could devastate environments and force whole regions into disorder, the agreement was insufficient as the "significant advancement" needed.

"The summit provided some baby steps in the proper course, but given the scale of the climate crisis, it has fallen short of the occasion," stated one environmental analyst.

This imperfect deal might have been the best attainable, given the political challenges – including a US president who ignored the talks and remains wedded to oil and coal, the rising tide of conservative movements, persistent fighting in multiple regions, extreme measures of inequality, and global economic uncertainty.

"Major polluters – the fossil fuel giants – were finally in the spotlight at these negotiations," notes one environmental advocate. "This represents progress on that. The political space is accessible. Now we must convert it to a genuine solution to a safer world."

Major disagreements revealed

While nations were able to celebrate the formal approval of the deal, Cop30 also highlighted significant divisions in the primary worldwide framework for addressing the climate crisis.

"Climate conferences are unanimity-required, and in a time of global disagreements, agreement is ever harder to reach," stated one senior UN official. "It would be dishonest to claim that this summit has provided all that is needed. The disparity between our current position and what science demands remains dangerously wide."

When the world is to avoid the worst ravages of climate collapse, the international negotiations alone will fall far short.