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As dawn illuminated the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, negotiators remained confined in a windowless conference room, uncertain whether it was day or night. Having spent 12 hours in difficult discussions, with scores ministers representing various coalitions of countries from the most vulnerable nations to the most developed economies.

Frustration mounted, the air stifling as sweaty delegates confronted the grim reality: they would not reach a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The latest global climate summit hovered near the brink of total collapse.

The central impasse: Fossil fuels

Research has demonstrated for nearly a century, the carbon dioxide produced by consuming fossil fuels is heating up our planet to alarming levels.

Yet, during nearly three decades of annual climate meetings, the urgent need to stop fossil fuel use has been mentioned only once – in a resolution made two years ago at previous UN climate talks to "transition away from fossil fuels". Representatives from the Gulf states, Russia, and a few other countries were determined this would not be repeated.

Growing momentum for change

At the same time, a expanding group of countries were similarly resolved that movement on this issue was urgently necessary. They had created a proposal that was attracting growing support and made it apparent they were willing to hold firm.

Developing countries strongly sought to advance on securing funding support to help them address the increasingly severe impacts of climate disasters.

Turning point

By the early hours of Saturday, some delegates were prepared to leave and cause breakdown. "It was on the edge for us," stated one government representative. "I considered to walk away."

The pivotal moment happened through discussions with Saudi Arabia. Near 6am, principal delegates left the main group to hold a confidential discussion with the head Saudi negotiator. They encouraged language that would subtly reference the global commitment to "shift from fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Surprising consensus

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

The room expressed relief. Cheers erupted. The deal was completed.

With what became known as the "Brazil agreement", the world took an incremental move towards the phaseout of fossil fuels – a faltering, insufficient step that will minimally impact the climate's ongoing trajectory towards crisis. But nevertheless a important shift from complete stagnation.

Major components of the agreement

• Complementing the oblique commitment in the legally agreed text, countries will start developing a roadmap to phase out 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 also put off to next year
• Developing countries obtained a significant expansion to $120bn of yearly funding to help them cope with the impacts of climate disasters
• This amount will not be delivered in full until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "equitable change process" to help people working in fossil fuel sectors transition to the renewable industry

Varied responses

As the world teeters on the brink of climate "tipping points" that could devastate environments and plunge whole regions into chaos, the agreement was far from the "giant leap" needed.

"Negotiators delivered some modest progress in the correct path, but in light of the magnitude of the climate crisis, it has not met the occasion," cautioned one policy director.

This limited deal might have been all that was possible, given the geopolitical headwinds – including a American leader who ignored the talks and remains aligned with oil and coal, the increasing presence of nationalist politics, persistent fighting in various areas, unacceptable degrees of inequality, and global economic instability.

"Major polluters – the fossil fuel giants – were ultimately in the crosshairs at these negotiations," notes one environmental advocate. "There is no turning back on that. The platform is open. Now we must transform it into a real fire escape to a more secure planet."

Deep fissures revealed

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

"International summits are agreement-dependent, and in a time of global disagreements, agreement is progressively challenging to reach," commented one senior UN official. "We should not suggest that this summit has delivered everything that is needed. The disparity between our current position and what evidence necessitates remains concerningly substantial."

Should the world is to avoid the worst ravages of climate breakdown, the UN climate talks alone will prove insufficient.