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When dawn crept over the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, negotiators remained trapped in a enclosed conference room, oblivious whether it was day or night. They had been 12 hours in strained discussions, with scores ministers representing various coalitions of countries including the most vulnerable nations to the wealthiest economies.

Tempers were short, the air thick as exhausted delegates faced up to the grim reality: there would not be a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The international climate negotiations teetered on the brink of abject failure.

The sticking point: Fossil fuels

As science has told us for well over a century, the carbon dioxide produced by utilizing fossil fuels is increasing temperatures on our planet to critical levels.

Nevertheless, during nearly three decades of annual climate meetings, the urgent need to stop fossil fuel use has been mentioned only once – in a decision made two years ago at the Dubai climate summit to "shift from fossil fuels". Representatives from the Arab Group, Russia, and a few other countries were adamant this would not be repeated.

Increasing pressure for change

At the same time, a increasing coalition of countries were similarly resolved that movement on this issue was vitally needed. They had created a proposal that was gathering expanding support and made it evident they were ready to stand their ground.

Developing countries urgently needed to advance on securing funding support to help them address the growing impacts of environmental crises.

Turning point

In the pre-dawn period of Saturday, some delegates were prepared to leave and force a collapse. "We were close for us," commented one national delegate. "I was prepared to walk away."

The pivotal moment happened through negotiations with Saudi Arabia. Near 6am, principal delegates split from the main group to hold a closed-door meeting with the head Saudi negotiator. They pressed text that would indirectly acknowledge the global commitment to "shift from fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Unanticipated resolution

Rather than explicitly referencing fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the Dubai agreement". Upon deliberation, the Saudi delegation surprisingly accepted the wording.

The room expressed relief. Celebrations began. The deal was done.

With what became known as the "Amazon accord", the world took another small step towards the gradual elimination of fossil fuels – a hesitant, insufficient step that will scarcely affect the climate's continued progression towards crisis. But nevertheless a significant departure from complete stagnation.

Key elements of the agreement

• Complementing the indirect reference in the formal agreement, countries will commence creating a plan to gradually eliminate fossil fuels
• This will be primarily a optional undertaking 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 obtained a threefold increase to $120bn of regular financial support to help them adapt to the impacts of climate disasters
• This funding will not be completely provided until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "fair adjustment program" to help people working in polluting businesses move toward the clean economy

Differing opinions

As the world approaches the brink of climate "critical thresholds" that could destroy ecosystems and plunge whole regions into crisis, the agreement was not the "giant leap" needed.

"Cop30 gave us some modest progress in the proper course, but considering the severity of the climate crisis, it has fallen short of the occasion," stated one policy director.

This imperfect deal might have been the maximum achievable, given the geopolitical headwinds – including a American leader who shunned the talks and remains wedded to oil and coal, the increasing presence of conservative movements, continuing wars in different locations, intolerable levels of inequality, and global economic uncertainty.

"Fossil fuel corporations – the oil and gas companies – were finally in the crosshairs at the climate summit," says one policy convener. "There is no turning back on that. The opportunity is accessible. Now we must convert it to a real fire escape to a more secure planet."

Deep fissures revealed

While nations were able to welcome the gavelling through of the deal, Cop30 also exposed deep fissures in the sole international mechanism for tackling the climate crisis.

"UN negotiations are unanimity-required, and in a era of geopolitical divides, agreement is ever harder to reach," stated one senior UN official. "It would be dishonest to claim that this summit has delivered everything that is needed. The gap between where we are and what evidence necessitates remains concerningly substantial."

Should the world is to prevent the gravest consequences of climate breakdown, the global discussions alone will fall far short.