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When dawn crept over the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, delegates remained stuck in a enclosed conference room, uncertain whether it was day or night. Having spent 12 hours in difficult discussions, with dozens ministers representing multiple blocs of countries including the poorest nations to the richest economies.

Tempers were short, the air heavy as sweaty delegates faced up to the sobering reality: they would not reach a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The 30th UN climate conference teetered on 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 warming our planet to dangerous levels.

Yet, during nearly three decades of yearly climate meetings, the essential necessity to halt fossil fuel use has been referenced only once – in a decision made two years ago at the Dubai climate summit to "transition away from fossil fuels". Delegates from the Arab Group, Russia, and multiple other countries were resolved this would not happen again.

Mounting support for change

At the same time, a growing number of countries were similarly resolved that movement on this issue was urgently necessary. They had developed a plan that was gathering increasing support and made it clear they were ready to stand their ground.

Less wealthy nations desperately wanted to advance on securing economic resources to help them cope with the growing impacts of extreme weather.

Turning point

In the pre-dawn period of Saturday, some delegates were willing to walk out and cause breakdown. "It was on the edge for us," commented one national delegate. "I was ready to walk away."

The breakthrough happened through negotiations with Saudi Arabia. Shortly after 6am, principal delegates left the main group to hold a closed-door meeting with the lead Saudi negotiator. They urged wording that would indirectly acknowledge the global commitment to "transition away from fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Unanticipated resolution

Rather than explicitly mentioning fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the previous commitment". Upon deliberation, the Saudi delegation surprisingly approved the wording.

Delegates expressed relief. Applause rang out. The agreement was completed.

With what became known as the "Amazon accord", the world took another small step towards the gradual elimination of fossil fuels – a faltering, insufficient step that will scarcely affect the climate's steady march towards catastrophe. But nevertheless a significant departure from total inaction.

Important aspects of the agreement

• Complementing the indirect reference in the legally agreed text, countries will start developing a roadmap to gradually eliminate fossil fuels
• This will be mostly a voluntary initiative led by Brazil that will report back next year
• Addressing the essential decreases in greenhouse gas emissions to not exceed the 1.5C limit was similarly postponed to next year
• Developing countries obtained a tripling to $120bn of annual finance to help them cope with the impacts of environmental crises
• This sum will not be fully available until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "just transition mechanism" to help people working in high-carbon industries transition to the renewable industry

Differing opinions

As the world hovers near the brink of climate "irreversible changes" that could eliminate habitats and force whole regions into disorder, the agreement was far from the "significant advancement" needed.

"The summit provided some modest progress in the proper course, but considering the severity of the climate crisis, it has fallen short of the occasion," warned one policy director.

This flawed deal might have been all that was possible, given the international tensions – including a Washington administration who ignored the talks and remains committed to oil and coal, the growing influence of rightwing populism, ongoing conflicts in multiple regions, intolerable levels of inequality, and global economic volatility.

"The climate arsonists – the oil and gas companies – were finally in the focus at Cop30," comments one policy convener. "We have crossed a threshold on that. The opportunity is open. Now we must transform it into a actual pathway to a more secure planet."

Significant divisions revealed

Even as nations were able to welcome the official adoption of the deal, Cop30 also revealed significant divisions in the only global process for addressing the climate crisis.

"UN negotiations are consensus-based, and in a period of geopolitical divides, unanimity is increasingly difficult to reach," stated one senior UN official. "It would be dishonest to claim that these talks has provided all that is needed. The disparity between our current position and what science demands remains dangerously wide."

If the world is to prevent the most severe impacts of climate collapse, the global discussions alone will not be nearly enough.