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As dawn illuminated the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, delegates remained confined in a airless conference room, uncertain whether it was day or night. They had been 12 hours in tense discussions, with dozens ministers representing various coalitions of countries ranging from the least developed nations to the richest economies.

Patience wore thin, the air stifling as sweaty delegates confronted the sobering reality: they would not reach a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The latest global climate summit teetered on the brink of total collapse.

The major obstacle: Fossil fuels

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

However, during over three decades of annual climate meetings, the essential necessity to halt fossil fuel use has been mentioned only once – in a agreement made two years ago at previous UN climate talks to "move beyond fossil fuels". Officials from the Gulf states, Russia, and several other countries were resolved this would not be repeated.

Increasing pressure for change

Meanwhile, a expanding group of countries were similarly resolved that movement on this issue was crucially important. They had formulated a plan that was gathering growing support and made it clear they were willing to dig in.

Less wealthy nations desperately wanted to advance on securing financial assistance to help them manage the increasingly severe impacts of extreme weather.

Turning point

During the night of Saturday, some delegates were willing to leave and trigger failure. "We were close for us," commented one national delegate. "I was ready to walk away."

The pivotal moment came through talks with Saudi Arabia. Shortly after 6am, principal delegates split from the main group to hold a private conversation with the chief Saudi negotiator. They pressed text that would indirectly acknowledge the global commitment to "shift from fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Surprising consensus

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

Participants collapsed into relief. Celebrations began. The deal was completed.

With what became known as the "Brazil agreement", the world took another small step towards the gradual elimination of fossil fuels – a faltering, insufficient step that will minimally impact the climate's continued progression towards disaster. But nevertheless a significant departure from total inaction.

Key elements of the agreement

• Complementing the subtle acknowledgment in the legally agreed text, countries will begin work a plan to gradually eliminate fossil fuels
• This will be primarily a non-binding program led by Brazil that will deliver findings next year
• Addressing the required reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to not exceed the 1.5C limit was likewise deferred to next year
• Developing countries achieved a threefold increase to $120bn of annual finance to help them adapt to the impacts of environmental crises
• This amount will not be delivered in full until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "just transition mechanism" to help people working in high-carbon industries shift to the sustainable sector

Mixed reactions

With global conditions teeters on the brink of climate "irreversible changes" that could eliminate habitats and throw whole regions into crisis, the agreement was insufficient as the "giant leap" needed.

"Cop30 gave us some modest progress in the correct path, but in light of the scale of the climate crisis, it has not met the occasion," warned one environmental analyst.

This limited deal might have been the maximum achievable, given the political challenges – including a Washington administration who ignored the talks and remains aligned with oil and coal, the increasing presence of nationalist politics, ongoing conflicts in various areas, intolerable levels of inequality, and global economic uncertainty.

"Major polluters – the energy conglomerates – were finally in the spotlight at these negotiations," says one climate activist. "This represents progress on that. The opportunity is open. Now we must convert it to a actual pathway to a safer world."

Deep fissures revealed

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

"Climate conferences are unanimity-required, and in a era of geopolitical divides, agreement is ever harder to reach," commented one global leader. "It would be dishonest to claim that Cop30 has delivered everything that is needed. The difference between present circumstances and what research requires remains alarmingly large."

If the world is to prevent the gravest consequences of climate crisis, the UN climate talks alone will not be nearly enough.