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While dawn illuminated the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, negotiators remained trapped in a airless conference room, unaware whether it was day or night. They had been 12 hours in tense discussions, with numerous ministers representing multiple blocs of countries ranging from the most vulnerable nations to the richest economies.

Patience wore thin, the air thick as weary delegates faced up to the sobering reality: they were unlikely to achieve a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The 30th UN climate conference faced the brink of total collapse.

The sticking point: Fossil fuels

Research has demonstrated for more than a century, the greenhouse gases produced by utilizing fossil fuels is increasing temperatures on our planet to alarming levels.

Nevertheless, during more than three decades of yearly climate meetings, the urgent need to halt fossil fuel use has been referenced only once – in a decision made two years ago at the Dubai climate summit to "move beyond fossil fuels". Representatives from the Gulf states, Russia, and a few other countries were determined this would not be repeated.

Increasing pressure for change

Meanwhile, a growing number of countries were equally determined that progress on this issue was vitally needed. They had formulated a initiative that was earning growing support and made it apparent they were ready to stand their ground.

Developing countries urgently needed to advance on securing financial assistance to help them cope with the increasingly severe impacts of extreme weather.

Turning point

In the pre-dawn period of Saturday, some delegates were prepared to walk out and cause breakdown. "The situation was precarious for us," remarked one national delegate. "I was prepared to walk away."

The breakthrough came through discussions with Saudi Arabia. Around 6am, principal delegates separated from the main group to hold a confidential discussion with the chief Saudi negotiator. They pressed text that would indirectly acknowledge the global commitment to "move beyond fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Unexpected agreement

Rather than explicitly referencing fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the Dubai agreement". Upon deliberation, the Saudi delegation surprisingly agreed to the wording.

The room showed visible relief. Applause rang out. The agreement was completed.

With what became known as the "Amazon accord", the world took an incremental move towards the phaseout of fossil fuels – a hesitant, insufficient step that will minimally impact the climate's ongoing trajectory towards catastrophe. But nevertheless a important shift from total inaction.

Key elements of the agreement

• Complementing the oblique commitment in the official document, countries will commence creating a plan to gradually eliminate fossil fuels
• This will be primarily a non-binding program led by Brazil that will provide updates next year
• Addressing the essential decreases in greenhouse gas emissions to stay within the 1.5C limit was similarly postponed to next year
• Developing countries achieved a tripling to $120bn of annual finance to help them cope with the impacts of climate disasters
• This sum will not be fully available until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "just transition mechanism" to help people working in high-carbon industries shift to the clean economy

Differing opinions

While our planet approaches the brink of climate "critical thresholds" that could destroy ecosystems and plunge whole regions into crisis, the agreement was far from the "giant leap" needed.

"The summit provided some small advances in the proper course, but considering the scale of the climate crisis, it has failed to rise to the occasion," stated one climate expert.

This limited deal might have been all that was possible, given the political challenges – including a US president who ignored the talks and remains wedded to oil and coal, the increasing presence of rightwing populism, ongoing conflicts in various areas, unacceptable degrees of inequality, and global economic uncertainty.

"Fossil fuel corporations – the energy conglomerates – were finally in the crosshairs at the climate summit," says one climate activist. "We have crossed a threshold on that. The platform is available. Now we must convert it to a real fire escape to a safer world."

Major disagreements revealed

While nations were able to applaud the formal approval of the deal, Cop30 also exposed significant divisions in the only global process for confronting the climate crisis.

"UN negotiations are unanimity-required, and in a era of international tensions, agreement is increasingly difficult to reach," observed one global leader. "It would be dishonest to claim that this summit has provided all that is needed. The difference between our current position and what science demands remains dangerously wide."

If the world is to avoid the gravest consequences of climate breakdown, the international negotiations alone will fall far short.