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When dawn illuminated the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, negotiators remained stuck in a enclosed conference room, uncertain whether it was day or night. Having spent 12 hours in difficult discussions, with scores ministers representing various coalitions of countries ranging from the least developed nations to the most developed economies.

Frustration mounted, the air stifling as exhausted delegates confronted the sobering reality: they would not reach a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The latest global climate summit hovered near the brink of total collapse.

The major obstacle: Fossil fuels

As science has told us for well over a century, the CO2 emissions produced by burning fossil fuels is warming our planet to dangerous levels.

Nevertheless, during more than three decades of regular climate meetings, the urgent need to cease fossil fuel use has been mentioned only once – in a resolution made two years ago at previous UN climate talks to "move beyond fossil fuels". Officials from the Middle Eastern nations, Russia, and a few other countries were adamant this would not happen again.

Mounting support for change

Meanwhile, a increasing coalition of countries were similarly resolved that progress on this issue was crucially important. They had formulated a initiative that was earning increasing support and made it apparent they were prepared to hold firm.

Emerging economies strongly sought to advance on securing economic resources to help them cope with the already disastrous impacts of climate disasters.

Turning point

In the pre-dawn period of Saturday, some delegates were willing to leave and trigger failure. "We were close for us," commented one energy minister. "I was prepared to walk away."

The pivotal moment came through discussions with Saudi Arabia. Near 6am, key negotiators left the main group to hold a confidential discussion with the head Saudi negotiator. They pressed wording that would subtly reference the global commitment to "move beyond fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Surprising consensus

As opposed to explicitly referencing fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the previous commitment". Following reflection, the Saudi delegation surprisingly accepted the wording.

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

With what became known as the "Brazil agreement", the world took an incremental move towards the gradual elimination of fossil fuels – a hesitant, limited step that will minimally impact the climate's ongoing trajectory towards catastrophe. But nevertheless a significant departure from complete stagnation.

Major components of the agreement

• Alongside the subtle acknowledgment in the legally agreed text, countries will begin work a plan to systematically reduce fossil fuels
• This will be primarily a voluntary initiative led by Brazil that will report back next year
• Addressing the required reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to not exceed the 1.5C limit was also put off to next year
• Developing countries obtained a threefold increase to $120bn of yearly funding to help them adapt to the impacts of extreme weather
• This funding will not be completely provided until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "just transition mechanism" to help people working in polluting businesses transition to the clean economy

Mixed reactions

While our planet teeters on the brink of climate "critical thresholds" that could eliminate habitats and throw whole regions into chaos, the agreement was not the "giant leap" needed.

"Negotiators delivered some modest progress in the proper course, but in light of the magnitude of the climate crisis, it has not met the occasion," cautioned one policy director.

This limited deal might have been the maximum achievable, given the political challenges – including a US president who avoided the talks and remains wedded to oil and coal, the increasing presence of rightwing populism, ongoing conflicts in multiple regions, intolerable levels of inequality, and global economic instability.

"Fossil fuel corporations – the energy conglomerates – were finally in the focus at these negotiations," comments one policy convener. "This represents progress on that. The platform is accessible. Now we must turn it into a actual pathway to a safer world."

Deep fissures revealed

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

"International summits are unanimity-required, and in a period of global disagreements, consensus is ever harder to reach," commented one senior UN official. "We should not suggest that Cop30 has provided all that is needed. The difference between our current position and what evidence necessitates remains alarmingly large."

If the world is to prevent the worst ravages of climate breakdown, the international negotiations alone will not be nearly enough.