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When dawn illuminated the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, delegates remained trapped in a enclosed conference room, unaware whether it was day or night. Having spent 12 hours in tense discussions, with dozens ministers representing various coalitions of countries from the most vulnerable nations to the richest economies.

Tempers were short, the air stifling as sweaty delegates acknowledged the grim reality: there would not be a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The 30th UN climate conference faced the brink of abject failure.

The central impasse: Fossil fuels

Scientific evidence has shown for well over a century, the CO2 emissions produced by utilizing fossil fuels is increasing temperatures on our planet to critical levels.

Nevertheless, during nearly three decades of regular climate meetings, the urgent need to cease fossil fuel use has been mentioned only once – in a agreement made two years ago at the Dubai climate summit to "move beyond fossil fuels". Officials from the Middle Eastern nations, Russia, and multiple other countries were resolved this would not be repeated.

Mounting support for change

Meanwhile, a growing number of countries were similarly resolved that movement on this issue was crucially important. They had formulated a initiative that was attracting increasing support and made it apparent they were ready to stand their ground.

Emerging economies strongly sought to move forward on securing economic resources to help them cope with the increasingly severe impacts of climate disasters.

Breaking point

By the early hours of Saturday, some delegates were prepared to leave and force a collapse. "We were close for us," commented one national delegate. "I considered to walk away."

The critical development happened through talks with Saudi Arabia. Shortly after 6am, senior representatives separated from the main group to hold a confidential discussion with the lead Saudi negotiator. They encouraged language that would subtly reference the global commitment to "move beyond fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Unexpected agreement

Instead of explicitly namechecking fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the UAE consensus". After consideration, the Saudi delegation unexpectedly agreed to the wording.

The room collapsed into relief. Cheers erupted. The agreement was completed.

With what became known as the "Amazon accord", the world took an incremental move towards the gradual elimination of fossil fuels – a uncertain, inadequate step that will barely interrupt the climate's ongoing trajectory towards catastrophe. But nevertheless a important shift from complete stagnation.

Important aspects of the agreement

• Complementing the subtle acknowledgment in the legally agreed text, countries will commence creating a roadmap to systematically reduce fossil fuels
• This will be primarily a non-binding program led by Brazil that will provide updates next year
• Addressing the necessary cuts in greenhouse gas emissions to remain below the 1.5C limit was likewise deferred to next year
• Developing countries obtained a threefold increase to $120bn of annual finance to help them adapt to the impacts of climate disasters
• This amount will not be completely provided until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "fair adjustment program" to help people working in fossil fuel sectors move toward the sustainable sector

Mixed reactions

While our planet approaches the brink of climate "tipping points" that could destroy ecosystems and plunge whole regions into disorder, the agreement was not the "major breakthrough" needed.

"Cop30 gave us some baby steps in the right direction, but given the magnitude of the climate crisis, it has failed to rise to the occasion," stated one climate expert.

This imperfect deal might have been all that was possible, given the geopolitical headwinds – including a US president who avoided the talks and remains wedded to oil and coal, the growing influence of nationalist politics, persistent fighting in different locations, extreme measures of inequality, and global economic instability.

"Major polluters – the fossil fuel giants – were at last in the crosshairs at these negotiations," notes one climate activist. "This represents progress on that. The platform is open. Now we must turn it into a real fire escape to a more secure planet."

Deep fissures revealed

Although nations were able to celebrate the formal approval of the deal, Cop30 also revealed major disagreements in the sole international mechanism for confronting the climate crisis.

"UN negotiations are agreement-dependent, and in a time of geopolitical divides, agreement is ever harder to reach," commented one international diplomat. "I cannot pretend that Cop30 has delivered everything that is needed. The gap between where we are and what evidence necessitates remains alarmingly large."

If the world is to prevent the worst ravages of climate crisis, the international negotiations alone will prove insufficient.