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As dawn was breaking the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, representatives remained confined in a airless conference room, unaware whether it was day or night. For more than 12 hours in tense discussions, with dozens ministers representing various coalitions of countries including the most vulnerable nations to the richest economies.

Tempers were short, the air thick as weary delegates acknowledged the grim reality: they were unlikely to achieve a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The latest global climate summit faced the brink of abject failure.

The sticking point: Fossil fuels

Scientific evidence has shown for nearly a century, the carbon dioxide produced by utilizing fossil fuels is increasing temperatures on our planet to alarming levels.

Yet, during over three decades of yearly climate meetings, the essential necessity to halt fossil fuel use has been mentioned only once – in a resolution made two years ago at the Dubai climate summit to "transition away from fossil fuels". Representatives from the Arab Group, Russia, and several other countries were resolved this would not happen again.

Mounting support for change

Meanwhile, a expanding group of countries were similarly resolved that progress on this issue was crucially important. They had formulated a proposal that was attracting increasing support and made it apparent they were ready to hold firm.

Less wealthy nations strongly sought to advance on securing financial assistance to help them address the increasingly severe impacts of environmental crises.

Critical moment

During the night of Saturday, some delegates were prepared to withdraw and trigger failure. "It was on the edge for us," commented one national delegate. "I was prepared to walk away."

The breakthrough occurred through negotiations with Saudi Arabia. Around 6am, principal delegates separated from the main group to hold a closed-door meeting with the chief Saudi negotiator. They encouraged text that would obliquely recognise the global commitment to "move beyond fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Surprising consensus

Rather than explicitly namechecking fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the UAE consensus". Following reflection, the Saudi delegation unexpectedly approved the wording.

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

With what became known as the "Amazon accord", the world took an incremental move towards the systematic reduction of fossil fuels – a faltering, limited step that will minimally impact the climate's steady march towards crisis. But nevertheless a notable change from total inaction.

Major components of the agreement

• In addition to the subtle acknowledgment in the formal agreement, countries will start developing a roadmap to gradually eliminate fossil fuels
• This will be mostly a non-binding program led by Brazil that will deliver findings next year
• Addressing the essential decreases in greenhouse gas emissions to not exceed the 1.5C limit was also put off to next year
• Developing countries obtained a significant expansion 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 fossil fuel sectors shift to the renewable industry

Differing opinions

With global conditions approaches the brink of climate "irreversible changes" that could devastate environments and throw whole regions into crisis, the agreement was far from the "significant advancement" needed.

"Cop30 gave us some modest progress in the correct path, but considering the scale of the climate crisis, it has fallen short of the occasion," warned one climate expert.

This limited deal might have been the maximum achievable, given the political challenges – including a US president who shunned the talks and remains committed to oil and coal, the growing influence of conservative movements, continuing wars in multiple regions, unacceptable degrees of inequality, and global economic uncertainty.

"Major polluters – the energy conglomerates – were finally in the spotlight at the climate summit," notes one climate activist. "There is no turning back on that. The platform is open. Now we must turn it into a actual pathway to a safer world."

Significant divisions revealed

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

"Climate conferences are unanimity-required, and in a period of international tensions, unanimity is ever harder to reach," stated one global leader. "It would be dishonest to claim that Cop30 has delivered everything that is needed. The difference between our current position and what evidence necessitates remains alarmingly large."

Should the world is to avoid the gravest consequences of climate breakdown, the global discussions alone will prove insufficient.