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When dawn was breaking the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, negotiators remained stuck in a airless conference room, uncertain whether it was day or night. For more than 12 hours in strained discussions, with numerous ministers representing multiple blocs of countries ranging from the poorest nations to the richest economies.

Frustration mounted, the air heavy as exhausted delegates confronted the grim reality: they would not reach a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The 30th UN climate conference hovered near the brink of total collapse.

The sticking point: Fossil fuels

Scientific evidence has shown for more than a century, the CO2 emissions produced by burning fossil fuels is warming our planet to critical levels.

However, during more than three decades of annual climate meetings, the essential necessity to halt fossil fuel use has been referenced only once – in a resolution made two years ago at Cop28 to "transition away from fossil fuels". Officials from the Arab Group, Russia, and multiple other countries were determined this would not happen again.

Mounting support for change

Meanwhile, a growing number of countries were similarly resolved that progress on this issue was vitally needed. They had created a proposal that was earning expanding support and made it apparent they were prepared to dig in.

Developing countries strongly sought to move forward on securing financial assistance to help them address the increasingly severe impacts of environmental crises.

Critical moment

By the early hours of Saturday, some delegates were prepared to leave and force a collapse. "The situation was precarious for us," commented one national delegate. "I was ready to walk away."

The pivotal moment came through talks with Saudi Arabia. Near 6am, principal delegates separated from the main group to hold a closed-door meeting with the lead Saudi negotiator. They encouraged language that would obliquely recognise the global commitment to "move beyond fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Unanticipated resolution

As opposed to explicitly namechecking fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the Dubai agreement". After consideration, the Saudi delegation unforeseeably accepted the wording.

Delegates expressed relief. Applause rang out. The settlement was done.

With what became known as the "Brazil agreement", the world took an incremental move towards the phaseout of fossil fuels – a hesitant, limited step that will scarcely affect the climate's steady march towards crisis. But nevertheless a significant departure from complete stagnation.

Major components of the agreement

• Alongside the indirect reference in the official document, countries will commence creating a framework to systematically reduce 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 remain below the 1.5C limit was also put off to next year
• Developing countries secured a significant expansion to $120bn of yearly funding to help them cope with the impacts of environmental crises
• This amount will not be delivered in full until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "fair adjustment program" to help people working in polluting businesses shift to the clean economy

Differing opinions

While our planet teeters on the brink of climate "irreversible changes" that could devastate environments and force whole regions into crisis, the agreement was insufficient as the "significant advancement" needed.

"Negotiators delivered some small advances in the correct path, but considering the scale of the climate crisis, it has not met the occasion," cautioned one policy director.

This imperfect deal might have been the best attainable, given the political challenges – including a US president who avoided the talks and remains aligned with oil and coal, the growing influence of conservative movements, continuing wars in multiple regions, intolerable levels of inequality, and global economic volatility.

"Fossil fuel corporations – the oil and gas companies – were finally in the crosshairs at the climate summit," says one climate activist. "This represents progress on that. The opportunity is open. Now we must transform it into a actual pathway to a more secure planet."

Significant divisions revealed

Even as nations were able to welcome the formal approval of the deal, Cop30 also revealed major disagreements in the primary worldwide framework for tackling the climate crisis.

"International summits are consensus-based, and in a era of geopolitical divides, unanimity is ever harder to reach," observed one international diplomat. "I cannot pretend that these talks has achieved complete success that is needed. The difference between where we are and what research requires remains concerningly substantial."

Should the world is to prevent the worst ravages of climate crisis, the UN climate talks alone will prove insufficient.