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When dawn crept over the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, negotiators remained stuck in a airless conference room, unaware whether it was day or night. For more than 12 hours in strained discussions, with scores ministers representing multiple blocs of countries including the poorest nations to the most developed economies.

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

The major obstacle: Fossil fuels

Research has demonstrated for well over a century, the CO2 emissions produced by utilizing fossil fuels is increasing temperatures on our planet to dangerous levels.

However, during more than three decades of regular climate meetings, the urgent need to stop fossil fuel use has been referenced only once – in a agreement made two years ago at previous UN climate talks to "move beyond fossil fuels". Representatives from the Gulf states, Russia, and a few other countries were resolved this would not occur another time.

Mounting support for change

Simultaneously, a increasing coalition of countries were just as committed that movement on this issue was vitally needed. They had created a initiative that was gathering growing support and made it clear they were willing to hold firm.

Emerging economies desperately wanted to make progress on securing financial assistance to help them manage the growing impacts of climate disasters.

Turning point

During the night of Saturday, some delegates were ready to leave and cause breakdown. "We were close for us," commented one national delegate. "I was ready to walk away."

The critical development happened through talks with Saudi Arabia. Shortly after 6am, principal delegates split from the main group to hold a confidential discussion with the head Saudi negotiator. They encouraged wording that would subtly reference the global commitment to "move beyond fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Unanticipated resolution

Rather than explicitly namechecking fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the UAE consensus". Following reflection, the Saudi delegation surprisingly approved the wording.

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

With what became known as the "Brazil agreement", the world took a modest advance towards the systematic reduction of fossil fuels – a hesitant, insufficient step that will minimally impact the climate's continued progression towards catastrophe. But nevertheless a important shift from total inaction.

Important aspects of the agreement

• In addition to the oblique commitment in the formal agreement, countries will commence creating a framework to gradually eliminate fossil fuels
• This will be largely a non-binding program led by Brazil that will report back 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 secured a tripling to $120bn of regular financial support to help them cope with the impacts of extreme weather
• This sum will not be fully available until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "equitable change process" to help people working in fossil fuel sectors transition to the clean economy

Varied responses

As the world approaches the brink of climate "tipping points" that could destroy ecosystems and force whole regions into disorder, the agreement was far from the "giant leap" needed.

"Negotiators delivered some small advances in the correct path, but given the severity of the climate crisis, it has failed to rise to the occasion," warned one policy director.

This limited deal might have been all that was possible, given the international tensions – including a US president who ignored the talks and remains committed to oil and coal, the increasing presence of conservative movements, continuing wars in multiple regions, unacceptable degrees of inequality, and global economic volatility.

"Fossil fuel corporations – the oil and gas companies – were at last in the focus at Cop30," notes one climate activist. "This represents progress on that. The platform is open. Now we must turn it into a real fire escape to a safer world."

Major disagreements revealed

Although nations were able to celebrate the official adoption of the deal, Cop30 also highlighted significant divisions in the only global process for addressing the climate crisis.

"International summits are agreement-dependent, and in a period of international tensions, agreement is progressively challenging to reach," observed one global leader. "We should not suggest that this summit has provided all that is needed. The difference between present circumstances and what science demands remains dangerously wide."

When the world is to prevent the most severe impacts of climate breakdown, the international negotiations alone will not be nearly enough.