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When dawn was breaking the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, representatives remained trapped in a enclosed conference room, oblivious whether it was day or night. For more than 12 hours in strained discussions, with dozens ministers representing 17 groups of countries ranging from the least developed nations to the most developed economies.

Patience wore thin, the air stifling as exhausted delegates faced up to the grim reality: they would not reach a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The latest global climate summit faced the brink of abject failure.

The central impasse: Fossil fuels

Scientific evidence has shown for well over a century, the greenhouse gases produced by utilizing fossil fuels is heating up our planet to alarming levels.

Nevertheless, during more than three decades of regular climate meetings, the urgent need to stop fossil fuel use has been referenced only once – in a resolution made two years ago at Cop28 to "move beyond fossil fuels". Delegates from the Middle Eastern nations, Russia, and multiple other countries were adamant this would not happen again.

Growing momentum for change

Meanwhile, a expanding group of countries were equally determined that advancement on this issue was crucially important. They had created a plan that was gathering increasing support and made it clear they were ready to hold firm.

Developing countries urgently needed to make progress on securing funding support to help them address the growing impacts of climate disasters.

Critical moment

In the pre-dawn period of Saturday, some delegates were willing to leave and cause breakdown. "We were close for us," commented one national delegate. "I considered to walk away."

The breakthrough occurred through discussions with Saudi Arabia. Shortly after 6am, senior representatives separated from the main group to hold a confidential discussion with the chief Saudi negotiator. They encouraged language that would obliquely recognise the global commitment to "move beyond fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Unexpected agreement

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

The room expressed relief. Applause rang out. The agreement was completed.

With what became known as the "Amazon accord", the world took an incremental move towards the phaseout of fossil fuels – a faltering, limited step that will scarcely affect the climate's continued progression towards crisis. But nevertheless a notable change from total inaction.

Key elements of the agreement

• Alongside the subtle acknowledgment in the formal agreement, countries will start developing a roadmap to systematically reduce fossil fuels
• This will be largely 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 also put off to next year
• Developing countries achieved a tripling to $120bn of yearly funding to help them manage the impacts of extreme weather
• This funding will not be fully available until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "fair adjustment program" to help people working in polluting businesses move toward the renewable industry

Varied responses

With global conditions approaches the brink of climate "irreversible changes" that could eliminate habitats and force whole regions into chaos, the agreement was insufficient as the "major breakthrough" needed.

"Cop30 gave us some baby steps in the right direction, but considering the severity of the climate crisis, it has failed to rise to the occasion," stated one environmental analyst.

This limited deal might have been all that was possible, given the political challenges – including a Washington administration who ignored the talks and remains aligned with oil and coal, the rising tide of nationalist politics, persistent fighting in different locations, extreme measures of inequality, and global economic volatility.

"The climate arsonists – the fossil fuel giants – were at last in the spotlight at the climate summit," notes one environmental advocate. "This represents progress on that. The platform is available. Now we must turn it into a real fire escape to a more secure planet."

Deep fissures revealed

Even as nations were able to welcome the official adoption of the deal, Cop30 also highlighted significant divisions in the primary worldwide framework for confronting the climate crisis.

"International summits are consensus-based, and in a time of international tensions, agreement is progressively challenging to reach," observed one senior UN official. "We should not suggest that this summit has achieved complete success that is needed. The difference between where we are and what science demands remains concerningly substantial."

Should the world is to avoid the worst ravages of climate crisis, the UN climate talks alone will not be nearly enough.