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When dawn crept over the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, delegates remained trapped in a airless conference room, unaware whether it was day or night. Having spent 12 hours in strained discussions, with dozens ministers representing 17 groups of countries including the least developed nations to the wealthiest economies.

Frustration mounted, the air thick as weary delegates acknowledged the sobering reality: they would not reach a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The 30th UN climate conference hovered near the brink of complete breakdown.

The major obstacle: Fossil fuels

As science has told us for more than a century, the carbon dioxide produced by consuming fossil fuels is warming our planet to alarming levels.

Nevertheless, during more than three decades of annual climate meetings, the urgent need to stop fossil fuel use has been addressed only once – in a decision made two years ago at the Dubai climate summit to "transition away from fossil fuels". Representatives from the Arab Group, Russia, and multiple other countries were adamant this would not be repeated.

Increasing pressure for change

Meanwhile, a increasing coalition of countries were equally determined that advancement on this issue was crucially important. They had created a plan that was attracting expanding support and made it evident they were prepared to dig in.

Emerging economies desperately wanted to make progress on securing financial assistance to help them cope with the growing impacts of climate disasters.

Critical moment

In the pre-dawn period of Saturday, some delegates were willing to leave and cause breakdown. "It was on the edge for us," stated one national delegate. "I was ready to walk away."

The breakthrough occurred through discussions with Saudi Arabia. Shortly after 6am, key negotiators split from the main group to hold a private conversation with the head Saudi negotiator. They pressed text that would indirectly acknowledge the global commitment to "shift from fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Surprising consensus

Rather than explicitly mentioning fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the UAE consensus". Upon deliberation, the Saudi delegation unforeseeably agreed to the wording.

Delegates showed visible relief. Applause rang out. The deal was finalized.

With what became known as the "Amazon accord", the world took an incremental move towards the systematic reduction of fossil fuels – a faltering, insufficient step that will scarcely affect the climate's continued progression towards catastrophe. 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 gradually eliminate fossil fuels
• This will be mostly a non-binding program led by Brazil that will deliver findings next year
• Addressing the essential decreases in greenhouse gas emissions to not exceed the 1.5C limit was also put off to next year
• Developing countries secured a significant expansion to $120bn of regular financial support to help them cope with the impacts of extreme weather
• This amount will not be completely provided until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "fair adjustment program" to help people working in high-carbon industries shift to the clean economy

Differing opinions

While our planet hovers near the brink of climate "tipping points" that could devastate environments and throw whole regions into chaos, the agreement was insufficient as the "major breakthrough" needed.

"Negotiators delivered some small advances in the correct path, but given the severity of the climate crisis, it has fallen short of the occasion," warned one environmental analyst.

This imperfect deal might have been the best attainable, given the political challenges – including a Washington administration who avoided the talks and remains wedded to oil and coal, the increasing presence of rightwing populism, persistent fighting in multiple regions, intolerable levels of inequality, and global economic instability.

"Major polluters – the fossil fuel giants – were ultimately in the crosshairs at Cop30," comments one climate activist. "There is no turning back on that. The opportunity is open. Now we must transform it into a actual pathway to a safer world."

Significant divisions revealed

While nations were able to celebrate the official adoption of the deal, Cop30 also highlighted deep fissures in the sole international mechanism for tackling the climate crisis.

"UN negotiations are agreement-dependent, and in a period of international tensions, agreement is increasingly difficult to reach," observed one international diplomat. "I cannot pretend that these talks has provided all that is needed. The gap between where we are and what science demands remains dangerously wide."

Should the world is to prevent the most severe impacts of climate breakdown, the UN climate talks alone will not be nearly enough.