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While dawn crept over the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, negotiators remained confined in a windowless conference room, oblivious whether it was day or night. For more than 12 hours in tense discussions, with scores ministers representing multiple blocs of countries including the poorest nations to the wealthiest economies.

Patience wore thin, the air stifling as weary delegates acknowledged the harsh reality: they would not reach a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The latest global climate summit hovered near the brink of abject failure.

The sticking point: Fossil fuels

As science has told us for nearly a century, the greenhouse gases produced by consuming fossil fuels is increasing temperatures on our planet to alarming levels.

However, during more than three decades of regular climate meetings, the urgent need to halt fossil fuel use has been mentioned only once – in a decision made two years ago at the Dubai climate summit to "shift from fossil fuels". Delegates from the Arab Group, Russia, and several other countries were determined this would not occur another time.

Increasing pressure for change

Meanwhile, a expanding group of countries were equally determined that progress on this issue was crucially important. They had developed a plan that was earning growing support and made it apparent they were prepared to hold firm.

Developing countries urgently needed to advance on securing funding support to help them address the already disastrous impacts of climate disasters.

Critical moment

During the night of Saturday, some delegates were ready to walk out and cause breakdown. "We were close for us," commented one energy minister. "I was ready to walk away."

The pivotal moment occurred through talks with Saudi Arabia. Around 6am, key negotiators separated from the main group to hold a closed-door meeting with the head Saudi negotiator. They pressed wording that would subtly reference the global commitment to "move beyond fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Unanticipated resolution

Rather than explicitly mentioning fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the previous commitment". Following reflection, the Saudi delegation unforeseeably accepted the wording.

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

With what became known as the "Brazil agreement", the world took an incremental move towards the gradual elimination of fossil fuels – a uncertain, limited step that will barely interrupt the climate's steady march towards disaster. But nevertheless a significant departure from complete stagnation.

Important aspects of the agreement

• Complementing the subtle acknowledgment in the official document, countries will start developing a roadmap to systematically reduce fossil fuels
• This will be primarily a non-binding program led by Brazil that will report back 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 obtained a tripling to $120bn of regular financial support to help them cope with the impacts of climate disasters
• This amount will not be fully available until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "just transition mechanism" to help people working in high-carbon industries move toward the clean economy

Varied responses

With global conditions approaches the brink of climate "irreversible changes" that could devastate environments and plunge whole regions into crisis, the agreement was insufficient as the "significant advancement" needed.

"Negotiators delivered some baby steps in the right direction, but given the magnitude of the climate crisis, it has not met the occasion," warned one climate expert.

This flawed deal might have been all that was possible, given the geopolitical headwinds – including a Washington administration who ignored the talks and remains wedded to oil and coal, the growing influence of rightwing populism, persistent fighting in different locations, intolerable levels of inequality, and global economic volatility.

"Fossil fuel corporations – the energy conglomerates – were at last in the crosshairs at these negotiations," comments one environmental advocate. "There is no turning back on that. The political space is available. Now we must convert it to a genuine solution to a protected environment."

Significant divisions revealed

Although nations were able to applaud the gavelling through of the deal, Cop30 also revealed deep fissures in the primary worldwide framework for tackling the climate crisis.

"Climate conferences are unanimity-required, and in a era of global disagreements, consensus is ever harder to reach," commented one senior UN official. "I cannot pretend that these talks has provided all that is needed. The difference between our current position and what research requires remains dangerously wide."

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