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

Frustration mounted, the air stifling as weary delegates confronted the grim reality: they would not reach a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The 30th UN climate conference faced the brink of complete breakdown.

The major obstacle: Fossil fuels

Scientific evidence has shown for nearly a century, the carbon dioxide produced by consuming fossil fuels is increasing temperatures on our planet to alarming levels.

Nevertheless, during more than three decades of regular climate meetings, the crucial requirement to halt fossil fuel use has been mentioned only once – in a resolution made two years ago at previous UN climate talks to "shift from fossil fuels". Representatives from the Arab Group, Russia, and a few other countries were determined this would not be repeated.

Growing momentum for change

Simultaneously, a expanding group of countries were equally determined that progress on this issue was crucially important. They had developed a plan that was earning expanding support and made it evident they were ready to stand their ground.

Emerging economies desperately wanted to advance on securing financial assistance to help them address the already disastrous impacts of climate disasters.

Turning point

During the night of Saturday, some delegates were willing to withdraw and force a collapse. "The situation was precarious for us," commented one government representative. "I was ready to walk away."

The breakthrough happened through negotiations with Saudi Arabia. Shortly after 6am, principal delegates split from the main group to hold a confidential discussion 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.

Unanticipated resolution

Instead of explicitly referencing fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the UAE consensus". Upon deliberation, the Saudi delegation unexpectedly accepted the wording.

Participants expressed relief. Celebrations began. The deal was finalized.

With what became known as the "Brazil agreement", the world took an incremental move towards the phaseout of fossil fuels – a hesitant, inadequate step that will scarcely affect the climate's continued progression towards disaster. But nevertheless a notable change from complete stagnation.

Important aspects of the agreement

• Alongside the oblique commitment in the legally agreed text, countries will commence creating a framework to systematically reduce fossil fuels
• This will be largely a non-binding program led by Brazil that will report back next year
• Addressing the necessary cuts in greenhouse gas emissions to remain below the 1.5C limit was also put off to next year
• Developing countries obtained a threefold increase to $120bn of yearly funding 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 shift to the clean economy

Differing opinions

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

"The summit provided some small advances in the right direction, but given the magnitude of the climate crisis, it has fallen short of the occasion," cautioned one climate expert.

This limited deal might have been the best attainable, given the geopolitical headwinds – including a US president who shunned the talks and remains aligned with oil and coal, the growing influence of nationalist politics, ongoing conflicts in different locations, unacceptable degrees of inequality, and global economic instability.

"Major polluters – the fossil fuel giants – were finally in the focus at Cop30," notes one environmental advocate. "There is no turning back on that. The opportunity is accessible. Now we must convert it to a genuine solution to a more secure planet."

Major disagreements revealed

Although nations were able to welcome the formal approval of the deal, Cop30 also revealed deep fissures in the primary worldwide framework for tackling the climate crisis.

"International summits are agreement-dependent, and in a time of geopolitical divides, consensus is progressively challenging to reach," commented one international diplomat. "We should not suggest that this summit has provided all that is needed. The disparity between where we are and what evidence necessitates remains concerningly substantial."

Should the world is to avoid the gravest consequences of climate collapse, the UN climate talks alone will fall far short.