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When dawn was breaking the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, delegates remained stuck in a enclosed conference room, unaware whether it was day or night. Having spent 12 hours in tense discussions, with scores ministers representing various coalitions of countries from the least developed nations to the richest economies.

Patience wore thin, the air thick as weary delegates faced up to the harsh reality: they would not reach a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The latest global climate summit teetered on the brink of complete breakdown.

The major obstacle: Fossil fuels

Research has demonstrated for well over a century, the greenhouse gases produced by utilizing fossil fuels is warming our planet to dangerous levels.

Yet, during more than three decades of annual climate meetings, the crucial requirement to stop fossil fuel use has been referenced only once – in a resolution made two years ago at Cop28 to "shift from fossil fuels". Delegates from the Gulf states, Russia, and a few other countries were resolved this would not be repeated.

Growing momentum for change

At the same time, a expanding group of countries were equally determined that progress on this issue was vitally needed. They had developed a proposal that was attracting expanding support and made it evident they were prepared to hold firm.

Developing countries urgently needed to advance on securing economic resources to help them manage the already disastrous impacts of extreme weather.

Breaking point

During the night of Saturday, some delegates were ready to leave and trigger failure. "We were close for us," commented one government representative. "I considered to walk away."

The critical development happened 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 encouraged text that would subtly reference the global commitment to "move beyond fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Surprising consensus

Instead of explicitly mentioning fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the Dubai agreement". Upon deliberation, the Saudi delegation unforeseeably approved the wording.

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

With what became known as the "Amazon accord", the world took a modest advance towards the gradual elimination of fossil fuels – a hesitant, inadequate step that will minimally impact the climate's continued progression towards crisis. But nevertheless a significant departure from total inaction.

Key elements of the agreement

• Complementing the indirect reference in the legally agreed text, countries will commence creating a roadmap to gradually eliminate fossil fuels
• This will be largely a optional undertaking 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 also put off to next year
• Developing countries secured a significant expansion 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 "fair adjustment program" to help people working in high-carbon industries move toward the renewable industry

Differing opinions

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

"The summit provided some small advances in the correct path, but in light of the magnitude of the climate crisis, it has failed to rise to the occasion," cautioned one policy director.

This imperfect deal might have been all that was possible, given the international tensions – including a US president who shunned the talks and remains committed to oil and coal, the rising tide of nationalist politics, persistent fighting in various areas, unacceptable degrees of inequality, and global economic uncertainty.

"The climate arsonists – the oil and gas companies – were at last in the crosshairs at these negotiations," notes one policy convener. "This represents progress on that. The platform is open. Now we must convert it to a genuine solution to a more secure planet."

Major disagreements revealed

Even as nations were able to celebrate the official adoption of the deal, Cop30 also revealed significant divisions in the sole international mechanism for confronting the climate crisis.

"International summits are unanimity-required, and in a time of global disagreements, consensus is ever harder to reach," stated one global leader. "I cannot pretend that these talks has provided all that is needed. The gap between our current position and what evidence necessitates remains dangerously wide."

When the world is to avoid the worst ravages of climate breakdown, the UN climate talks alone will not be nearly enough.