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When dawn illuminated the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, negotiators remained stuck in a windowless conference room, unaware whether it was day or night. They had been 12 hours in strained discussions, with dozens ministers representing various coalitions of countries including the poorest nations to the most developed economies.

Patience wore thin, the air stifling as weary delegates confronted the grim reality: they were unlikely to achieve a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The 30th UN climate conference faced the brink of total collapse.

The sticking point: Fossil fuels

Scientific evidence has shown for well over a century, the carbon dioxide produced by burning fossil fuels is increasing temperatures on our planet to alarming levels.

Nevertheless, during more than three decades of annual climate meetings, the crucial requirement to stop fossil fuel use has been mentioned only once – in a resolution made two years ago at previous UN climate talks to "shift from fossil fuels". Representatives from the Middle Eastern nations, Russia, and multiple other countries were adamant this would not be repeated.

Growing momentum for change

Meanwhile, a expanding group of countries were equally determined that progress on this issue was crucially important. They had formulated a initiative that was earning expanding support and made it clear they were prepared to dig in.

Emerging economies strongly sought to make progress on securing funding support to help them address the already disastrous impacts of environmental crises.

Turning point

During the night of Saturday, some delegates were willing to leave and trigger failure. "It was on the edge for us," commented one energy minister. "I was ready to walk away."

The pivotal moment occurred through discussions with Saudi Arabia. Around 6am, principal delegates separated from the main group to hold a closed-door meeting with the head Saudi negotiator. They pressed wording that would obliquely recognise the global commitment to "transition away from fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Surprising consensus

Rather than explicitly namechecking fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the Dubai agreement". Following reflection, the Saudi delegation unexpectedly agreed to the wording.

The room collapsed into relief. Cheers erupted. The settlement was done.

With what became known as the "Brazil agreement", the world took an incremental move towards the gradual elimination of fossil fuels – a faltering, limited step that will barely interrupt the climate's ongoing trajectory towards crisis. But nevertheless a important shift from absolute paralysis.

Major components of the agreement

• In addition to the subtle acknowledgment in the formal agreement, countries will start developing a roadmap to phase out fossil fuels
• This will be mostly a optional undertaking led by Brazil that will provide updates next year
• Addressing the essential decreases in greenhouse gas emissions to stay within the 1.5C limit was also put off to next year
• Developing countries obtained a tripling to $120bn of regular financial support to help them manage the impacts of environmental crises
• This funding will not be completely provided until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "equitable change process" to help people working in polluting businesses move toward the clean economy

Mixed reactions

As the world teeters on the brink of climate "tipping points" that could eliminate habitats and throw whole regions into crisis, the agreement was insufficient as the "significant advancement" needed.

"Cop30 gave us some modest progress in the right direction, but given the scale of the climate crisis, it has failed to rise to the occasion," warned one climate expert.

This flawed 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 rightwing populism, continuing wars in multiple regions, extreme measures of inequality, and global economic instability.

"Fossil fuel corporations – the fossil fuel giants – were ultimately in the focus at the climate summit," comments one policy convener. "We have crossed a threshold on that. The political space is open. Now we must convert it to a real fire escape to a safer world."

Significant divisions revealed

Even as nations were able to applaud the official adoption of the deal, Cop30 also highlighted deep fissures in the sole international mechanism for addressing the climate crisis.

"UN negotiations are consensus-based, and in a time of global disagreements, consensus is ever harder to reach," observed one international diplomat. "It would be dishonest to claim that this summit has delivered everything that is needed. The gap between our current position and what research requires remains concerningly substantial."

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