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When dawn crept over the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, delegates remained trapped in a windowless conference room, unaware whether it was day or night. They had been 12 hours in difficult discussions, with dozens ministers representing 17 groups of countries from the poorest nations to the wealthiest economies.

Tempers were short, the air heavy as exhausted delegates acknowledged the sobering reality: they would not reach a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The 30th UN climate conference teetered on the brink of abject failure.

The sticking point: Fossil fuels

Research has demonstrated for well over a century, the CO2 emissions produced by burning fossil fuels is heating up our planet to dangerous levels.

Nevertheless, during over three decades of annual climate meetings, the urgent need to stop fossil fuel use has been referenced only once – in a resolution made two years ago at previous UN climate talks to "transition away from fossil fuels". Officials from the Middle Eastern nations, Russia, and several other countries were resolved this would not happen again.

Mounting support for change

Meanwhile, a expanding group of countries were similarly resolved that movement on this issue was crucially important. They had developed a initiative that was attracting expanding support and made it apparent they were ready to stand their ground.

Emerging economies strongly sought to move forward on securing economic resources to help them cope with the already disastrous impacts of environmental crises.

Turning point

During the night of Saturday, some delegates were prepared to walk out and force a collapse. "We were close for us," commented one government representative. "I was prepared to walk away."

The pivotal moment occurred through negotiations with Saudi Arabia. Around 6am, key negotiators split from the main group to hold a private conversation with the chief Saudi negotiator. They encouraged wording that would subtly reference the global commitment to "transition away from fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Unanticipated resolution

Rather than explicitly referencing fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the UAE consensus". Upon deliberation, the Saudi delegation unforeseeably accepted the wording.

Participants showed visible relief. Cheers erupted. The settlement was done.

With what became known as the "Amazon accord", the world took an incremental move towards the gradual elimination of fossil fuels – a faltering, insufficient step that will barely interrupt the climate's continued progression towards crisis. But nevertheless a important shift from total inaction.

Key elements of the agreement

• Alongside the oblique commitment in the formal agreement, countries will begin work a roadmap to phase out fossil fuels
• This will be largely a optional undertaking led by Brazil that will deliver findings next year
• Addressing the necessary cuts in greenhouse gas emissions to remain below the 1.5C limit was also put off to next year
• Developing countries obtained a threefold increase to $120bn of regular financial support to help them manage the impacts of environmental crises
• This sum will not be fully available until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "just transition mechanism" to help people working in polluting businesses move toward the sustainable sector

Mixed reactions

With global conditions approaches the brink of climate "critical thresholds" that could devastate environments and throw whole regions into chaos, the agreement was not the "major breakthrough" needed.

"Cop30 gave us some baby steps in the proper course, but considering the severity of the climate crisis, it has not met the occasion," cautioned one environmental analyst.

This flawed deal might have been the best attainable, given the international tensions – including a American leader who avoided the talks and remains aligned with oil and coal, the increasing presence of rightwing populism, ongoing conflicts in multiple regions, extreme measures of inequality, and global economic instability.

"Major polluters – the oil and gas companies – were finally in the crosshairs at these negotiations," says one climate activist. "This represents progress on that. The platform is available. Now we must transform it into a real fire escape to a more secure planet."

Deep fissures revealed

Even as nations were able to celebrate the official adoption of the deal, Cop30 also highlighted deep fissures in the primary worldwide framework for confronting the climate crisis.

"Climate conferences are consensus-based, and in a period of geopolitical divides, consensus is progressively challenging to reach," stated one senior UN official. "I cannot pretend that Cop30 has delivered everything that is needed. The disparity between where we are and what research requires remains dangerously wide."

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