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While dawn was breaking the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, representatives remained stuck in a windowless conference room, unaware whether it was day or night. They had been 12 hours in strained discussions, with scores ministers representing multiple blocs of countries from the least developed nations to the wealthiest economies.

Tempers were short, the air thick as weary delegates confronted the harsh reality: they would not reach a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The latest global climate summit faced the brink of complete breakdown.

The sticking point: Fossil fuels

Research has demonstrated for nearly a century, the carbon dioxide produced by consuming fossil fuels is heating up our planet to dangerous levels.

Yet, during over three decades of annual climate meetings, the urgent need to halt fossil fuel use has been mentioned only once – in a resolution made two years ago at Cop28 to "transition away from fossil fuels". Representatives from the Arab Group, Russia, and several other countries were determined this would not happen again.

Mounting support for change

At the same time, a growing number of countries were just as committed that movement on this issue was urgently necessary. They had developed a initiative that was attracting growing support and made it clear they were ready to dig in.

Emerging economies desperately wanted to move forward on securing financial assistance to help them address the already disastrous impacts of extreme weather.

Breaking point

By the early hours of Saturday, some delegates were ready to withdraw and trigger failure. "We were close for us," remarked one government representative. "I considered to walk away."

The critical development came through discussions with Saudi Arabia. Near 6am, senior representatives separated 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 referencing fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the previous commitment". After consideration, the Saudi delegation unexpectedly accepted the wording.

Delegates showed visible relief. Celebrations began. The deal was finalized.

With what became known as the "Amazon accord", the world took another small step towards the phaseout of fossil fuels – a hesitant, inadequate step that will scarcely affect the climate's ongoing trajectory towards disaster. But nevertheless a important shift from total inaction.

Important aspects of the agreement

• Alongside the subtle acknowledgment in the official document, countries will start developing a roadmap to phase out fossil fuels
• This will be mostly a optional undertaking led by Brazil that will report back next year
• Addressing the required reductions 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 regular financial support to help them adapt to the impacts of extreme weather
• This funding will not be fully available until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "equitable change process" to help people working in high-carbon industries transition to the sustainable sector

Varied responses

As the world approaches the brink of climate "tipping points" that could devastate environments and plunge whole regions into crisis, the agreement was insufficient as the "giant leap" needed.

"The summit provided some small advances in the right direction, but given the magnitude of the climate crisis, it has failed to rise to the occasion," cautioned one policy director.

This imperfect deal might have been all that was possible, given the political challenges – including a Washington administration who shunned the talks and remains wedded to oil and coal, the rising tide of conservative movements, continuing wars in various areas, extreme measures of inequality, and global economic instability.

"Major polluters – the fossil fuel giants – were finally in the crosshairs at Cop30," says one policy convener. "There is no turning back on that. The opportunity is open. Now we must turn it into a actual pathway to a more secure planet."

Significant divisions revealed

Although nations were able to applaud the formal approval of the deal, Cop30 also highlighted deep fissures in the primary worldwide framework for confronting the climate crisis.

"UN negotiations are agreement-dependent, and in a era of global disagreements, unanimity is progressively challenging to reach," observed one senior UN official. "We should not suggest that this summit has provided all that is needed. The disparity between where we are and what science demands remains concerningly substantial."

When the world is to prevent the gravest consequences of climate breakdown, the international negotiations alone will not be nearly enough.