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When dawn crept over the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, delegates remained stuck in a airless conference room, oblivious whether it was day or night. They had been 12 hours in strained discussions, with dozens ministers representing 17 groups of countries from the poorest nations to the most developed economies.

Patience wore thin, the air heavy as sweaty delegates confronted the harsh reality: they were unlikely to achieve a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The 30th UN climate conference faced the brink of total collapse.

The sticking point: Fossil fuels

Research has demonstrated for nearly a century, the carbon dioxide produced by consuming fossil fuels is warming our planet to alarming levels.

Yet, during more than three decades of regular climate meetings, the urgent need to halt fossil fuel use has been addressed only once – in a resolution made two years ago at Cop28 to "shift from fossil fuels". Officials from the Gulf states, Russia, and multiple other countries were resolved this would not be repeated.

Mounting support for change

Meanwhile, a expanding group of countries were similarly resolved that advancement on this issue was urgently necessary. They had developed a proposal that was attracting growing support and made it evident they were ready to hold firm.

Developing countries desperately wanted to make progress 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 willing to walk out and trigger failure. "We were close for us," commented one government representative. "I was prepared to walk away."

The breakthrough happened through discussions with Saudi Arabia. Near 6am, principal delegates separated from the main group to hold a confidential discussion with the lead Saudi negotiator. They pressed wording that would indirectly acknowledge the global commitment to "shift from fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Unexpected agreement

As opposed to explicitly referencing fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the UAE consensus". After consideration, the Saudi delegation unexpectedly approved the wording.

The room showed visible relief. Applause rang out. The settlement was finalized.

With what became known as the "Brazil agreement", the world took a modest advance towards the systematic reduction of fossil fuels – a hesitant, inadequate step that will barely interrupt the climate's continued progression towards crisis. But nevertheless a important shift from total inaction.

Major components of the agreement

• In addition to the indirect reference in the official document, countries will commence creating a plan to systematically reduce fossil fuels
• This will be primarily a voluntary initiative led by Brazil that will deliver findings next year
• Addressing the required reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to remain below the 1.5C limit was likewise deferred to next year
• Developing countries secured a tripling to $120bn of annual finance to help them adapt to the impacts of extreme weather
• This amount will not be fully available until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "equitable change process" to help people working in high-carbon industries move toward the renewable industry

Varied responses

As the world teeters on the brink of climate "irreversible changes" that could destroy ecosystems and throw whole regions into disorder, the agreement was insufficient as the "giant leap" needed.

"Cop30 gave us some small advances in the proper course, but in light of the scale of the climate crisis, it has failed to rise to the occasion," cautioned one environmental analyst.

This limited deal might have been the best attainable, given the political challenges – including a American leader who avoided the talks and remains committed to oil and coal, the increasing presence of conservative movements, ongoing conflicts in multiple regions, extreme measures of inequality, and global economic uncertainty.

"The climate arsonists – the energy conglomerates – were ultimately in the spotlight at Cop30," comments one policy convener. "There is no turning back on that. The opportunity is accessible. Now we must transform it into a actual pathway to a protected environment."

Major disagreements revealed

Even as nations were able to applaud the gavelling through of the deal, Cop30 also exposed deep fissures in the primary worldwide framework for addressing the climate crisis.

"Climate conferences are consensus-based, and in a time of global disagreements, unanimity is ever harder to reach," observed one senior UN official. "We should not suggest that this summit has delivered everything that is needed. The difference between present circumstances and what research requires remains alarmingly large."

If the world is to avoid the most severe impacts of climate collapse, the global discussions alone will fall far short.