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When dawn illuminated the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, negotiators remained trapped in a windowless conference room, uncertain whether it was day or night. They had been 12 hours in tense discussions, with scores ministers representing multiple blocs of countries including the poorest nations to the wealthiest economies.

Patience wore thin, the air heavy as exhausted delegates faced up to the sobering reality: there would not be a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The latest global climate summit hovered near the brink of abject failure.

The major obstacle: Fossil fuels

As science has told us for more than a century, the carbon dioxide produced by consuming fossil fuels is heating up our planet to critical levels.

However, during over three decades of annual climate meetings, the essential necessity to stop fossil fuel use has been referenced only once – in a agreement made two years ago at Cop28 to "transition away from fossil fuels". Representatives from the Middle Eastern nations, Russia, and a few other countries were adamant this would not be repeated.

Growing momentum for change

At the same time, a growing number of countries were similarly resolved that progress on this issue was vitally needed. They had formulated a initiative that was earning increasing support and made it apparent they were ready to stand their ground.

Developing countries desperately wanted to make progress on securing funding support to help them cope with the increasingly severe impacts of climate disasters.

Breaking point

In the pre-dawn period of Saturday, some delegates were ready to leave and force a collapse. "The situation was precarious for us," stated one government representative. "I was prepared to walk away."

The critical development occurred through discussions with Saudi Arabia. Around 6am, senior representatives split from the main group to hold a private conversation with the head Saudi negotiator. They encouraged wording that would obliquely recognise the global commitment to "transition away from fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Unanticipated resolution

As opposed to explicitly mentioning fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the Dubai agreement". Upon deliberation, the Saudi delegation unexpectedly approved the wording.

Delegates collapsed into relief. Celebrations began. The settlement was finalized.

With what became known as the "Amazon accord", the world took another small step towards the gradual elimination of fossil fuels – a hesitant, insufficient step that will minimally impact the climate's continued progression towards catastrophe. But nevertheless a notable change from absolute paralysis.

Major components of the agreement

• Alongside the oblique commitment in the official document, countries will begin work a framework to gradually eliminate fossil fuels
• This will be largely a voluntary initiative 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 likewise deferred to next year
• Developing countries secured a threefold increase to $120bn of regular financial support to help them cope with the impacts of extreme weather
• This amount will not be completely provided until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "equitable change process" to help people working in polluting businesses transition to the sustainable sector

Mixed reactions

With global conditions approaches the brink of climate "critical thresholds" that could eliminate habitats and plunge whole regions into chaos, the agreement was far from the "giant leap" needed.

"Cop30 gave us some baby steps in the right direction, but in light of the magnitude of the climate crisis, it has failed to rise to the occasion," cautioned one environmental analyst.

This imperfect deal might have been the best attainable, given the political challenges – including a US president who shunned the talks and remains committed to oil and coal, the growing influence of conservative movements, persistent fighting in various areas, extreme measures of inequality, and global economic uncertainty.

"The climate arsonists – the fossil fuel giants – were ultimately in the spotlight at the climate summit," comments one policy convener. "This represents progress on that. The platform is open. Now we must convert it to a genuine solution to a protected environment."

Major disagreements revealed

While nations were able to celebrate the formal approval of the deal, Cop30 also exposed major disagreements in the primary worldwide framework for confronting the climate crisis.

"International summits are unanimity-required, and in a period of geopolitical divides, agreement is increasingly difficult to reach," stated one senior UN official. "I cannot pretend that Cop30 has delivered everything that is needed. The difference between present circumstances and what research requires remains alarmingly large."

Should the world is to avert the gravest consequences of climate breakdown, the global discussions alone will prove insufficient.