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As dawn crept over the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, negotiators remained stuck in a windowless conference room, unaware whether it was day or night. For more than 12 hours in strained discussions, with scores ministers representing multiple blocs of countries from the least developed nations to the wealthiest economies.

Frustration mounted, the air stifling as exhausted delegates confronted the grim reality: they were unlikely to achieve a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The 30th UN climate conference faced the brink of total collapse.

The sticking point: Fossil fuels

As science has told us for more than a century, the greenhouse gases produced by utilizing fossil fuels is heating up our planet to dangerous levels.

Yet, during over three decades of regular climate meetings, the essential necessity to stop fossil fuel use has been referenced only once – in a decision made two years ago at Cop28 to "shift from fossil fuels". Representatives from the Arab Group, Russia, and a few other countries were adamant this would not occur another time.

Mounting support for change

Simultaneously, a expanding group of countries were just as committed that progress on this issue was urgently necessary. They had created a initiative that was earning growing support and made it clear they were ready to stand their ground.

Developing countries strongly sought to move forward on securing financial assistance to help them cope with the increasingly severe impacts of extreme weather.

Critical moment

During the night of Saturday, some delegates were prepared to walk out and trigger failure. "We were close for us," remarked one national delegate. "I considered 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 pressed text that would obliquely recognise the global commitment to "transition away from fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Unanticipated resolution

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

Participants expressed relief. Celebrations began. The agreement was done.

With what became known as the "Amazon accord", the world took another small step towards the phaseout of fossil fuels – a hesitant, limited step that will minimally impact the climate's continued progression towards crisis. But nevertheless a important shift from total inaction.

Important aspects of the agreement

• Complementing the subtle acknowledgment in the legally agreed text, countries will start developing a roadmap to phase out fossil fuels
• This will be primarily a non-binding program led by Brazil that will deliver findings next year
• Addressing the necessary cuts in greenhouse gas emissions to not exceed the 1.5C limit was similarly postponed to next year
• Developing countries secured a tripling to $120bn of regular financial support to help them manage the impacts of climate disasters
• This funding will not be fully available until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "just transition mechanism" to help people working in high-carbon industries shift to the sustainable sector

Varied responses

With global conditions approaches the brink of climate "critical thresholds" that could eliminate habitats and force whole regions into disorder, the agreement was not the "significant advancement" needed.

"The summit provided some modest progress in the right direction, but in light of the magnitude of the climate crisis, it has fallen short of the occasion," warned one policy director.

This imperfect deal might have been the best attainable, given the international tensions – including a Washington administration who ignored the talks and remains wedded to oil and coal, the increasing presence of rightwing populism, ongoing conflicts in various areas, unacceptable degrees of inequality, and global economic uncertainty.

"The climate arsonists – the energy conglomerates – were finally in the crosshairs at the climate summit," comments one environmental advocate. "This represents progress on that. The platform is open. Now we must transform it into a genuine solution to a more secure planet."

Significant divisions revealed

Although nations were able to celebrate the official adoption of the deal, Cop30 also exposed major disagreements in the sole international mechanism for confronting the climate crisis.

"UN negotiations are unanimity-required, and in a period of geopolitical divides, unanimity is ever harder to reach," observed one global leader. "I cannot pretend that this summit has achieved complete success that is needed. The disparity between our current position and what evidence necessitates remains concerningly substantial."

When the world is to prevent the most severe impacts of climate crisis, the international negotiations alone will fall far short.