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While dawn illuminated the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, negotiators remained stuck in a enclosed conference room, uncertain whether it was day or night. For more than 12 hours in strained discussions, with scores ministers representing various coalitions of countries from the most vulnerable nations to the most developed economies.

Tempers were short, the air thick as exhausted delegates faced up to the sobering reality: they were unlikely to achieve a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The international climate negotiations teetered on the brink of abject failure.

The sticking point: Fossil fuels

Research has demonstrated for nearly a century, the greenhouse gases produced by utilizing fossil fuels is warming our planet to dangerous levels.

However, during more than three decades of yearly climate meetings, the essential necessity to stop fossil fuel use has been referenced only once – in a agreement made two years ago at the Dubai climate summit to "move beyond fossil fuels". Delegates from the Middle Eastern nations, Russia, and several other countries were resolved this would not be repeated.

Increasing pressure for change

At the same time, a growing number of countries were equally determined that advancement on this issue was vitally needed. They had formulated a initiative that was attracting expanding support and made it clear they were ready to dig in.

Less wealthy nations desperately wanted to move forward on securing economic resources to help them cope with the increasingly severe impacts of extreme weather.

Breaking point

In the pre-dawn period of Saturday, some delegates were willing to withdraw and force a collapse. "It was on the edge for us," commented one energy minister. "I was ready to walk away."

The breakthrough occurred through talks with Saudi Arabia. Around 6am, principal delegates separated from the main group to hold a confidential discussion with the head Saudi negotiator. They urged wording that would indirectly acknowledge the global commitment to "transition away from fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Surprising consensus

Instead of explicitly referencing fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the Dubai agreement". Following reflection, the Saudi delegation unforeseeably accepted the wording.

Participants expressed relief. Celebrations began. The deal was done.

With what became known as the "Brazil agreement", the world took a modest advance towards the phaseout of fossil fuels – a uncertain, limited step that will scarcely affect the climate's continued progression towards disaster. But nevertheless a notable change from complete stagnation.

Important aspects of the agreement

• Complementing the indirect reference in the legally agreed text, countries will commence creating a roadmap to gradually eliminate fossil fuels
• This will be mostly a voluntary initiative led by Brazil that will report back next year
• Addressing the necessary cuts in greenhouse gas emissions to stay within the 1.5C limit was likewise deferred to next year
• Developing countries obtained a threefold increase to $120bn of regular financial support to help them adapt to the impacts of climate disasters
• This sum will not be delivered in full until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "equitable change process" to help people working in high-carbon industries transition to the renewable industry

Varied responses

While our planet hovers near the brink of climate "critical thresholds" that could devastate environments and plunge whole regions into chaos, the agreement was far from the "giant leap" needed.

"The summit provided some modest progress in the correct path, but in light of the scale of the climate crisis, it has not met the occasion," cautioned one environmental analyst.

This imperfect deal might have been the best attainable, 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, continuing wars in various areas, unacceptable degrees of inequality, and global economic uncertainty.

"Fossil fuel corporations – the energy conglomerates – were ultimately in the focus at the climate summit," says one policy convener. "There is no turning back on that. The platform is open. Now we must convert it to a actual pathway to a safer world."

Major disagreements revealed

Although nations were able to applaud the official adoption of the deal, Cop30 also revealed significant divisions in the only global process for confronting the climate crisis.

"International summits are unanimity-required, and in a era of international tensions, agreement is ever harder to reach," observed one global leader. "I cannot pretend that this summit has achieved complete success that is needed. The gap between where we are and what research requires remains alarmingly large."

If the world is to avoid the gravest consequences of climate crisis, the international negotiations alone will fall far short.