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When dawn was breaking the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, representatives remained trapped in a windowless conference room, uncertain whether it was day or night. For more than 12 hours in difficult discussions, with dozens ministers representing 17 groups of countries from the most vulnerable nations to the richest economies.

Tempers were short, the air heavy as exhausted delegates confronted the harsh reality: there would not be a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The 30th UN climate conference hovered near the brink of abject failure.

The sticking point: Fossil fuels

As science has told us for well over a century, the CO2 emissions produced by burning fossil fuels is warming our planet to dangerous levels.

However, during nearly 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 Cop28 to "shift from fossil fuels". Officials 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 expanding group of countries were just as committed that progress on this issue was vitally needed. They had formulated a plan that was earning increasing support and made it evident they were ready to dig in.

Less wealthy nations desperately wanted to move forward on securing funding support to help them address the increasingly severe impacts of environmental crises.

Critical moment

In the pre-dawn period of Saturday, some delegates were ready to leave and cause breakdown. "The situation was precarious for us," remarked one energy minister. "I considered to walk away."

The breakthrough happened through talks with Saudi Arabia. Around 6am, principal delegates separated from the main group to hold a confidential discussion with the chief Saudi negotiator. They pressed text that would obliquely recognise the global commitment to "transition away from fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Unexpected agreement

As opposed to explicitly mentioning fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the previous commitment". Following reflection, the Saudi delegation surprisingly agreed to the wording.

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

With what became known as the "Amazon accord", the world took an incremental move towards the gradual elimination of fossil fuels – a uncertain, insufficient step that will barely interrupt the climate's ongoing trajectory towards crisis. But nevertheless a important shift from complete stagnation.

Key elements of the agreement

• In addition to the subtle acknowledgment in the legally agreed text, countries will start developing a roadmap to systematically reduce fossil fuels
• This will be largely a non-binding program led by Brazil that will provide updates next year
• Addressing the essential decreases in greenhouse gas emissions to stay within the 1.5C limit was also put off to next year
• Developing countries secured a tripling to $120bn of yearly funding to help them cope with the impacts of extreme weather
• This funding will not be fully available until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "equitable change process" to help people working in polluting businesses move toward the sustainable sector

Differing opinions

While our planet approaches the brink of climate "irreversible changes" that could devastate environments and throw whole regions into crisis, the agreement was far from the "major breakthrough" needed.

"The summit provided some modest progress in the right direction, but considering the severity of the climate crisis, it has not met the occasion," stated one climate expert.

This flawed deal might have been all that was possible, given the international tensions – including a American leader who ignored the talks and remains wedded to oil and coal, the rising tide of conservative movements, continuing wars in various areas, unacceptable degrees of inequality, and global economic uncertainty.

"Major polluters – the fossil fuel giants – were at last in the focus at the climate summit," says one environmental advocate. "We have crossed a threshold on that. The political space is open. Now we must convert it to a actual pathway to a safer world."

Major disagreements revealed

Although nations were able to welcome the gavelling through of the deal, Cop30 also highlighted significant divisions in the primary worldwide framework for confronting the climate crisis.

"International summits are agreement-dependent, and in a era of geopolitical divides, consensus is progressively challenging to reach," observed one senior UN official. "We should not suggest that Cop30 has provided all that is needed. The difference between where we are and what evidence necessitates remains dangerously wide."

Should the world is to avert the most severe impacts of climate breakdown, the international negotiations alone will prove insufficient.