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When dawn illuminated the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, negotiators remained stuck in a airless conference room, oblivious whether it was day or night. Having spent 12 hours in difficult discussions, with scores ministers representing 17 groups of countries including the least developed nations to the wealthiest economies.

Tempers were short, the air stifling as exhausted delegates acknowledged the harsh reality: they would not reach a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The international climate negotiations hovered near the brink of total collapse.

The central impasse: Fossil fuels

Research has demonstrated for nearly a century, the CO2 emissions produced by consuming fossil fuels is warming our planet to critical levels.

However, during more than three decades of yearly climate meetings, the crucial requirement to cease fossil fuel use has been mentioned only once – in a decision made two years ago at the Dubai climate summit to "move beyond fossil fuels". Representatives from the Middle Eastern nations, Russia, and several other countries were resolved this would not occur another time.

Growing momentum for change

Meanwhile, a increasing coalition of countries were equally determined that movement on this issue was urgently necessary. They had created a proposal that was attracting increasing support and made it clear they were ready to hold firm.

Less wealthy nations urgently needed to make progress on securing economic resources to help them manage the growing impacts of extreme weather.

Breaking point

During the night of Saturday, some delegates were prepared to walk out and cause breakdown. "We were close for us," remarked one energy minister. "I was prepared to walk away."

The breakthrough occurred through discussions with Saudi Arabia. Around 6am, key negotiators left the main group to hold a closed-door meeting with the lead Saudi negotiator. They pressed language that would indirectly acknowledge the global commitment to "shift from 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". Upon deliberation, the Saudi delegation surprisingly agreed to the wording.

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

With what became known as the "Brazil agreement", the world took another small step towards the phaseout of fossil fuels – a uncertain, limited step that will scarcely affect the climate's ongoing trajectory towards catastrophe. But nevertheless a important shift from total inaction.

Key elements of the agreement

• Alongside the oblique commitment in the formal agreement, countries will commence creating a plan to phase out fossil fuels
• This will be largely a non-binding program led by Brazil that will deliver findings next year
• Addressing the required reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to not exceed the 1.5C limit was likewise deferred to next year
• Developing countries secured a tripling to $120bn of yearly funding to help them cope with the impacts of extreme weather
• This amount will not be fully available until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "fair adjustment program" to help people working in fossil fuel sectors move toward the renewable industry

Mixed reactions

As the world approaches the brink of climate "irreversible changes" that could destroy ecosystems and plunge whole regions into disorder, the agreement was not the "significant advancement" needed.

"The summit provided some small advances in the right direction, but given the magnitude of the climate crisis, it has not met the occasion," warned one environmental analyst.

This imperfect deal might have been the maximum achievable, given the geopolitical headwinds – including a Washington administration who ignored the talks and remains committed to oil and coal, the increasing presence of conservative movements, persistent fighting in different locations, unacceptable degrees of inequality, and global economic uncertainty.

"Major polluters – the energy conglomerates – were ultimately in the focus at the climate summit," comments one climate activist. "We have crossed a threshold on that. The platform is available. Now we must transform it into a genuine solution to a protected environment."

Major disagreements revealed

Even as nations were able to applaud the gavelling through of the deal, Cop30 also revealed deep fissures in the only global process for tackling the climate crisis.

"International summits are consensus-based, and in a time of global disagreements, agreement is ever harder to reach," stated one international diplomat. "We should not suggest that Cop30 has provided all that is needed. The gap between present circumstances and what research requires remains dangerously wide."

Should the world is to prevent the worst ravages of climate breakdown, the international negotiations alone will prove insufficient.