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When dawn illuminated the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, negotiators remained confined in a enclosed conference room, oblivious whether it was day or night. Having spent 12 hours in strained discussions, with dozens ministers representing 17 groups of countries from the poorest nations to the wealthiest economies.

Tempers were short, the air stifling as exhausted delegates faced up to the grim reality: they would not reach a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The latest global climate summit hovered near the brink of total collapse.

The major obstacle: Fossil fuels

Scientific evidence has shown for well over a century, the greenhouse gases produced by utilizing fossil fuels is warming our planet to alarming levels.

However, during over three decades of regular climate meetings, the crucial requirement to halt fossil fuel use has been addressed only once – in a agreement made two years ago at Cop28 to "shift from fossil fuels". Delegates from the Gulf states, Russia, and multiple other countries were determined this would not occur another time.

Mounting support for change

Simultaneously, a increasing coalition of countries were similarly resolved that progress on this issue was vitally needed. They had developed a plan that was gathering increasing support and made it clear they were ready to dig in.

Developing countries desperately wanted to move forward on securing economic resources to help them manage the increasingly severe impacts of environmental crises.

Breaking point

In the pre-dawn period of Saturday, some delegates were prepared to leave and trigger failure. "The situation was precarious for us," commented one national delegate. "I was prepared to walk away."

The breakthrough happened through talks with Saudi Arabia. Shortly after 6am, senior representatives separated from the main group to hold a private conversation with the chief Saudi negotiator. They encouraged language that would obliquely recognise the global commitment to "shift from fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Unexpected agreement

As opposed to explicitly referencing fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the Dubai agreement". After consideration, the Saudi delegation surprisingly agreed to the wording.

The room showed visible relief. Celebrations began. The settlement was completed.

With what became known as the "Amazon accord", the world took an incremental move towards the phaseout of fossil fuels – a faltering, limited step that will barely interrupt the climate's ongoing trajectory towards catastrophe. But nevertheless a important shift from total inaction.

Major components of the agreement

• Complementing the subtle acknowledgment in the official document, countries will begin work a framework to gradually eliminate fossil fuels
• This will be largely a voluntary initiative led by Brazil that will provide updates next year
• Addressing the essential decreases in greenhouse gas emissions to remain below 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 sum will not be fully available until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "equitable change process" to help people working in high-carbon industries transition to the clean economy

Differing opinions

As the world approaches the brink of climate "irreversible changes" that could devastate environments and force whole regions into crisis, the agreement was far from the "significant advancement" needed.

"The summit provided some small advances in the correct path, but considering the magnitude of the climate crisis, it has not met the occasion," stated one policy director.

This limited deal might have been the best attainable, given the international tensions – including a Washington administration who ignored the talks and remains committed to oil and coal, the growing influence of conservative movements, continuing wars in multiple regions, unacceptable degrees of inequality, and global economic instability.

"Fossil fuel corporations – the energy conglomerates – were at last in the spotlight at these negotiations," says one climate activist. "We have crossed a threshold on that. The platform is available. Now we must convert it to a real fire escape to a more secure planet."

Significant divisions revealed

Even as nations were able to welcome the official adoption of the deal, Cop30 also revealed deep fissures in the sole international mechanism for addressing the climate crisis.

"UN negotiations are consensus-based, and in a period of international tensions, agreement is progressively challenging to reach," commented one international diplomat. "I cannot pretend that Cop30 has provided all that is needed. The difference between where we are and what research requires remains alarmingly large."

When the world is to avoid the most severe impacts of climate collapse, the UN climate talks alone will fall far short.