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As dawn was breaking the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, representatives remained confined in a airless conference room, oblivious whether it was day or night. For more than 12 hours in strained discussions, with numerous ministers representing 17 groups of countries including the most vulnerable nations to the wealthiest economies.

Patience wore thin, the air heavy as sweaty delegates confronted the harsh reality: there would not be a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The international climate negotiations faced the brink of abject failure.

The central impasse: Fossil fuels

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

Nevertheless, during nearly three decades of yearly climate meetings, the essential necessity to halt fossil fuel use has been referenced only once – in a decision made two years ago at Cop28 to "move beyond fossil fuels". Delegates from the Arab Group, Russia, and several other countries were resolved this would not occur another time.

Increasing pressure for change

Simultaneously, a growing number of countries were similarly resolved that movement on this issue was vitally needed. They had developed a proposal that was earning increasing support and made it clear they were prepared to stand their ground.

Developing countries urgently needed to move forward on securing funding support to help them manage the already disastrous impacts of climate disasters.

Turning point

During the night of Saturday, some delegates were prepared to withdraw and trigger failure. "The situation was precarious for us," commented one national delegate. "I considered to walk away."

The breakthrough occurred through negotiations with Saudi Arabia. Near 6am, principal delegates split 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.

Unanticipated resolution

As opposed to explicitly namechecking fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the UAE consensus". Upon deliberation, the Saudi delegation unexpectedly accepted the wording.

The room collapsed into relief. Applause rang out. The agreement was finalized.

With what became known as the "Brazil agreement", the world took an incremental move towards the systematic reduction of fossil fuels – a hesitant, insufficient step that will minimally impact the climate's ongoing trajectory towards catastrophe. But nevertheless a significant departure from absolute paralysis.

Key elements of the agreement

• In addition to the indirect reference in the legally agreed text, countries will start developing 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 essential decreases in greenhouse gas emissions to remain below the 1.5C limit was also put off to next year
• Developing countries secured a tripling to $120bn of yearly funding to help them manage the impacts of climate disasters
• This funding will not be fully available until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "fair adjustment program" to help people working in high-carbon industries shift to the clean economy

Mixed reactions

As the world approaches the brink of climate "irreversible changes" that could eliminate habitats and force whole regions into disorder, the agreement was insufficient as the "significant advancement" needed.

"The summit provided some small advances in the proper course, but in light of the scale of the climate crisis, it has fallen short of the occasion," cautioned one policy director.

This limited deal might have been all that was possible, given the geopolitical headwinds – including a Washington administration who shunned the talks and remains aligned with oil and coal, the rising tide of nationalist politics, continuing wars in various areas, intolerable levels of inequality, and global economic uncertainty.

"Major polluters – the fossil fuel giants – were ultimately in the crosshairs at the climate summit," notes one policy convener. "This represents progress on that. The political space is open. Now we must turn it into a genuine solution to a more secure planet."

Deep fissures revealed

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

"International summits are agreement-dependent, and in a era of international tensions, unanimity is increasingly difficult to reach," stated one global leader. "I cannot pretend that Cop30 has provided all that is needed. The gap between present circumstances and what science demands remains dangerously wide."

When the world is to prevent the most severe impacts of climate collapse, the global discussions alone will prove insufficient.