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As dawn was breaking the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, negotiators remained trapped in a enclosed 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 grim reality: they were unlikely to achieve a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The latest global climate summit hovered near the brink of total collapse.

The sticking point: Fossil fuels

Research has demonstrated for nearly a century, the CO2 emissions produced by burning fossil fuels is warming our planet to alarming levels.

Nevertheless, during over three decades of regular climate meetings, the crucial requirement to halt fossil fuel use has been mentioned only once – in a agreement made two years ago at the Dubai climate summit to "shift from fossil fuels". Delegates from the Gulf states, Russia, and multiple other countries were adamant this would not happen again.

Increasing pressure for change

At the same time, a growing number of countries were just as committed that advancement on this issue was urgently necessary. They had formulated a plan that was attracting growing support and made it clear they were prepared to stand their ground.

Less wealthy nations desperately wanted to make progress on securing economic resources to help them cope with the already disastrous impacts of extreme weather.

Breaking point

By the early hours of Saturday, some delegates were prepared to leave and force a collapse. "We were close for us," remarked one energy minister. "I was ready to walk away."

The critical development came through talks with Saudi Arabia. Near 6am, principal delegates separated from the main group to hold a confidential discussion with the chief Saudi negotiator. They pressed text that would obliquely recognise the global commitment to "move beyond fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Surprising consensus

Instead of explicitly referencing fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the previous commitment". Upon deliberation, the Saudi delegation unexpectedly approved the wording.

The room showed visible relief. Applause rang out. The settlement 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 barely interrupt the climate's steady march towards disaster. But nevertheless a notable change from complete stagnation.

Key elements of the agreement

• Alongside the oblique commitment in the official document, countries will commence creating a framework to phase out fossil fuels
• This will be primarily a optional undertaking led by Brazil that will provide updates next year
• Addressing the essential decreases in greenhouse gas emissions to not exceed the 1.5C limit was likewise deferred to next year
• Developing countries obtained a tripling to $120bn of yearly funding to help them cope with the impacts of extreme weather
• This sum will not be fully available until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "fair adjustment program" to help people working in fossil fuel sectors move toward the clean economy

Varied responses

As the world hovers near the brink of climate "critical thresholds" that could eliminate habitats and throw whole regions into chaos, the agreement was insufficient as the "giant leap" needed.

"The summit provided some baby steps in the correct path, but considering the severity of the climate crisis, it has not met the occasion," stated one climate expert.

This imperfect deal might have been the best attainable, given the political challenges – including a US president who shunned the talks and remains wedded to oil and coal, the rising tide of conservative movements, continuing wars in various areas, intolerable levels of inequality, and global economic uncertainty.

"Major polluters – the fossil fuel giants – were finally in the spotlight at Cop30," comments one environmental advocate. "There is no turning back on that. The platform is accessible. Now we must turn it into a real fire escape to a more secure planet."

Deep fissures revealed

Even as nations were able to applaud the formal approval of the deal, Cop30 also revealed deep fissures in the only global process for addressing the climate crisis.

"International summits are consensus-based, and in a period of geopolitical divides, consensus is progressively challenging to reach," commented one senior UN official. "We should not suggest that this summit has achieved complete success that is needed. The disparity between present circumstances and what science demands remains dangerously wide."

Should the world is to prevent the most severe impacts of climate breakdown, the global discussions alone will fall far short.