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When dawn was breaking the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, representatives remained stuck in a windowless conference room, oblivious whether it was day or night. For more than 12 hours in difficult discussions, with numerous ministers representing multiple blocs of countries from the poorest nations to the wealthiest economies.

Tempers were short, the air heavy as sweaty delegates acknowledged the grim reality: they were unlikely to achieve a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The 30th UN climate conference teetered on the brink of complete breakdown.

The sticking point: Fossil fuels

As science has told us for more than a century, the CO2 emissions produced by burning fossil fuels is increasing temperatures on our planet to dangerous levels.

Nevertheless, during nearly three decades of yearly climate meetings, the crucial requirement to stop fossil fuel use has been addressed only once – in a resolution made two years ago at Cop28 to "shift from fossil fuels". Representatives from the Middle Eastern nations, Russia, and multiple other countries were adamant this would not occur another time.

Mounting support for change

Meanwhile, a increasing coalition of countries were equally determined that advancement on this issue was crucially important. They had developed a plan that was attracting growing support and made it clear they were willing to dig in.

Developing countries strongly sought to make progress on securing financial assistance to help them cope with the already disastrous impacts of environmental crises.

Turning point

By the early hours of Saturday, some delegates were ready to withdraw and trigger failure. "We were close for us," commented one national delegate. "I considered to walk away."

The pivotal moment happened through discussions with Saudi Arabia. Near 6am, key negotiators split from the main group to hold a private conversation with the lead Saudi negotiator. They pressed wording that would obliquely recognise the global commitment to "shift from fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Unexpected agreement

Instead of explicitly namechecking fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the UAE consensus". Upon deliberation, the Saudi delegation unforeseeably accepted the wording.

Participants showed visible relief. Cheers erupted. The deal was completed.

With what became known as the "Brazil agreement", the world took another small step towards the phaseout of fossil fuels – a faltering, limited step that will barely interrupt the climate's continued progression towards disaster. But nevertheless a significant departure from complete stagnation.

Major components of the agreement

• Alongside the oblique commitment in the official document, countries will start developing a plan to phase out fossil fuels
• This will be mostly a optional undertaking led by Brazil that will report back next year
• Addressing the necessary cuts 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 extreme weather
• This amount will not be fully available until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "just transition mechanism" to help people working in polluting businesses move toward the renewable industry

Varied responses

As the world approaches the brink of climate "tipping points" that could devastate environments and throw whole regions into crisis, the agreement was far from the "giant leap" needed.

"Cop30 gave us some modest progress in the right direction, but considering the magnitude of the climate crisis, it has not met the occasion," stated one environmental analyst.

This flawed deal might have been all that was possible, given the geopolitical headwinds – including a American leader who avoided the talks and remains wedded to oil and coal, the growing influence of rightwing populism, persistent fighting in various areas, intolerable levels of inequality, and global economic instability.

"The climate arsonists – the fossil fuel giants – were at last in the focus at Cop30," comments one policy convener. "We have crossed a threshold on that. The platform is available. Now we must transform it into a genuine solution to a protected environment."

Deep fissures revealed

While nations were able to applaud the formal approval of the deal, Cop30 also exposed major disagreements in the sole international mechanism for addressing the climate crisis.

"Climate conferences are consensus-based, and in a period of geopolitical divides, unanimity is increasingly difficult to reach," stated one senior UN official. "It would be dishonest to claim that these talks has provided all that is needed. The difference between our current position and what research requires remains alarmingly large."

If the world is to prevent the worst ravages of climate breakdown, the global discussions alone will fall far short.