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While dawn illuminated the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, negotiators remained confined in a enclosed conference room, uncertain whether it was day or night. They had been 12 hours in tense discussions, with numerous ministers representing 17 groups of countries from the poorest nations to the most developed economies.

Tempers were short, the air stifling as sweaty delegates acknowledged the sobering reality: they were unlikely to achieve a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The 30th UN climate conference hovered near the brink of abject failure.

The sticking point: Fossil fuels

Scientific evidence has shown for nearly a century, the carbon dioxide produced by consuming fossil fuels is warming our planet to critical levels.

Yet, during over three decades of yearly climate meetings, the essential necessity to cease fossil fuel use has been mentioned only once – in a decision made two years ago at previous UN climate talks to "transition away from fossil fuels". Officials from the Middle Eastern nations, Russia, and multiple other countries were determined this would not be repeated.

Growing momentum for change

Meanwhile, a increasing coalition of countries were equally determined that progress on this issue was crucially important. They had developed a initiative that was attracting expanding support and made it evident they were ready to stand their ground.

Emerging economies strongly sought to make progress on securing financial assistance to help them address the increasingly severe impacts of environmental crises.

Critical moment

During the night of Saturday, some delegates were prepared to withdraw and force a collapse. "It was on the edge for us," commented one government representative. "I was ready to walk away."

The breakthrough came through negotiations with Saudi Arabia. Around 6am, principal delegates separated from the main group to hold a private conversation with the lead Saudi negotiator. They urged text that would indirectly acknowledge the global commitment to "transition away from fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Unexpected agreement

Rather than explicitly namechecking fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the UAE consensus". After consideration, the Saudi delegation unforeseeably accepted the wording.

Delegates collapsed into relief. Applause rang out. The settlement was finalized.

With what became known as the "Amazon accord", the world took a modest advance towards the phaseout of fossil fuels – a hesitant, inadequate step that will minimally impact the climate's steady march towards disaster. But nevertheless a notable change from total inaction.

Important aspects of the agreement

• In addition to the subtle acknowledgment in the legally agreed text, countries will start developing a framework to gradually eliminate fossil fuels
• This will be primarily a non-binding program led by Brazil that will provide updates next year
• Addressing the required reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to not exceed the 1.5C limit was likewise deferred to next year
• Developing countries secured a tripling to $120bn of annual finance to help them adapt to the impacts of extreme weather
• This amount will not be delivered in full until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "fair adjustment program" to help people working in high-carbon industries shift to the renewable industry

Differing opinions

As the world approaches the brink of climate "tipping points" that could devastate environments and throw whole regions into chaos, the agreement was far from the "major breakthrough" needed.

"The summit provided some baby steps in the right direction, but considering the severity of the climate crisis, it has fallen short of the occasion," warned one policy director.

This imperfect deal might have been all that was possible, given the geopolitical headwinds – including a Washington administration who shunned the talks and remains wedded to oil and coal, the increasing presence of conservative movements, persistent fighting in various areas, unacceptable degrees of inequality, and global economic volatility.

"Fossil fuel corporations – the energy conglomerates – were at last in the crosshairs at the climate summit," comments one environmental advocate. "This represents progress on that. The political space is available. Now we must convert it to a genuine solution to a protected environment."

Deep fissures revealed

Although nations were able to celebrate the formal approval of the deal, Cop30 also exposed deep fissures in the only global process for confronting the climate crisis.

"International summits are agreement-dependent, and in a era of global disagreements, agreement is increasingly difficult to reach," stated one senior UN official. "We should not suggest that this summit has provided all that is needed. The difference between present circumstances and what evidence necessitates remains dangerously wide."

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