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While dawn crept over the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, representatives remained confined in a airless conference room, uncertain whether it was day or night. They had been 12 hours in strained discussions, with numerous ministers representing 17 groups of countries including the least developed nations to the wealthiest economies.

Tempers were short, the air thick as weary delegates confronted the sobering reality: they would not reach a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The international climate negotiations hovered near the brink of abject failure.

The sticking point: Fossil fuels

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

Nevertheless, during nearly three decades of annual climate meetings, the essential necessity to halt fossil fuel use has been referenced only once – in a resolution made two years ago at the Dubai climate summit to "shift from fossil fuels". Representatives from the Gulf states, Russia, and several other countries were determined this would not happen again.

Growing momentum for change

Simultaneously, a increasing coalition of countries were equally determined that advancement on this issue was urgently necessary. They had developed a proposal that was attracting increasing support and made it apparent they were willing to stand their ground.

Developing countries desperately wanted to make progress on securing financial assistance to help them manage the increasingly severe impacts of environmental crises.

Critical moment

During the night of Saturday, some delegates were willing to leave and trigger failure. "We were close for us," remarked one national delegate. "I was ready to walk away."

The pivotal moment happened through discussions with Saudi Arabia. Shortly after 6am, principal delegates split from the main group to hold a private conversation with the lead Saudi negotiator. They pressed wording that would indirectly acknowledge the global commitment to "move beyond fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Unanticipated resolution

Instead of explicitly referencing fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the UAE consensus". Upon deliberation, the Saudi delegation unforeseeably agreed to the wording.

Participants showed visible relief. Celebrations began. The agreement was finalized.

With what became known as the "Brazil agreement", the world took an incremental move towards the phaseout of fossil fuels – a faltering, limited step that will scarcely affect the climate's continued progression towards crisis. But nevertheless a important shift from absolute paralysis.

Major components of the agreement

• Alongside the indirect reference in the formal agreement, countries will begin work a roadmap to phase out fossil fuels
• This will be primarily a optional undertaking led by Brazil that will deliver findings 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 secured a significant expansion to $120bn of annual finance to help them manage the impacts of environmental crises
• This funding will not be completely provided until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "fair adjustment program" to help people working in polluting businesses shift to the renewable industry

Varied responses

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

"Cop30 gave us some modest progress in the right direction, but considering the magnitude of the climate crisis, it has not met the occasion," warned one policy director.

This flawed deal might have been the maximum achievable, given the international tensions – including a US president who shunned the talks and remains committed to oil and coal, the rising tide of nationalist politics, persistent fighting in different locations, unacceptable degrees of inequality, and global economic instability.

"Major polluters – the fossil fuel giants – were finally in the focus at the climate summit," comments one policy convener. "There is no turning back on that. The opportunity is accessible. Now we must turn it into a real fire escape to a more secure planet."

Major disagreements revealed

Although nations were able to applaud the official adoption of the deal, Cop30 also revealed deep fissures in the sole international mechanism for tackling the climate crisis.

"International summits are unanimity-required, and in a period of international tensions, unanimity is progressively challenging to reach," observed one international diplomat. "I cannot pretend that Cop30 has provided all that is needed. The disparity between present circumstances and what science demands remains concerningly substantial."

If the world is to avoid the worst ravages of climate breakdown, the international negotiations alone will prove insufficient.