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While dawn was breaking the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, delegates remained stuck in a airless conference room, uncertain whether it was day or night. They had been 12 hours in strained discussions, with numerous ministers representing various coalitions of countries including the least developed nations to the most developed economies.

Patience wore thin, the air stifling as sweaty delegates acknowledged the sobering reality: they would not reach a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The international climate negotiations hovered near the brink of complete breakdown.

The central impasse: Fossil fuels

As science has told us for more than a century, the carbon dioxide produced by consuming fossil fuels is heating up our planet to alarming levels.

Yet, during more than three decades of annual climate meetings, the crucial requirement to cease fossil fuel use has been addressed only once – in a agreement made two years ago at previous UN climate talks to "move beyond fossil fuels". Representatives from the Arab Group, Russia, and multiple other countries were resolved this would not happen again.

Mounting support for change

Simultaneously, a increasing coalition of countries were equally determined that advancement on this issue was crucially important. They had developed a plan that was earning expanding support and made it clear they were prepared to stand their ground.

Less wealthy nations urgently needed to advance on securing financial assistance to help them manage the already disastrous impacts of climate disasters.

Critical moment

In the pre-dawn period of Saturday, some delegates were willing to leave and cause breakdown. "It was on the edge for us," stated one government representative. "I was ready to walk away."

The breakthrough came through negotiations with Saudi Arabia. Shortly after 6am, senior representatives split from the main group to hold a closed-door meeting with the chief Saudi negotiator. They encouraged language that would obliquely recognise the global commitment to "transition away from fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Unexpected agreement

As opposed to explicitly namechecking fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the UAE consensus". After consideration, the Saudi delegation surprisingly agreed to the wording.

Delegates collapsed into relief. Applause rang out. The agreement was completed.

With what became known as the "Amazon accord", the world took another small step towards the phaseout of fossil fuels – a uncertain, limited step that will scarcely affect the climate's steady march towards crisis. But nevertheless a notable change from absolute paralysis.

Important aspects of the agreement

• Alongside the indirect reference in the formal agreement, countries will start developing a framework to phase out fossil fuels
• This will be largely a voluntary initiative led by Brazil that will deliver findings 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 achieved a significant expansion to $120bn of annual finance to help them adapt to the impacts of environmental crises
• This sum will not be fully available until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "fair adjustment program" to help people working in polluting businesses shift to the clean economy

Varied responses

As the world hovers near the brink of climate "irreversible changes" that could eliminate habitats and force whole regions into chaos, the agreement was far from the "giant leap" needed.

"The summit provided some modest progress in the right direction, but considering the magnitude of the climate crisis, it has not met the occasion," cautioned one policy director.

This imperfect deal might have been the best attainable, given the geopolitical headwinds – including a American leader who ignored the talks and remains wedded to oil and coal, the increasing presence of nationalist politics, continuing wars in multiple regions, unacceptable degrees of inequality, and global economic volatility.

"Major polluters – the fossil fuel giants – were ultimately in the focus at the climate summit," says one environmental advocate. "We have crossed a threshold on that. The platform is open. Now we must convert it to a genuine solution to a safer world."

Deep fissures revealed

Although nations were able to applaud the gavelling through of the deal, Cop30 also highlighted significant divisions in the primary worldwide framework for addressing the climate crisis.

"International summits are consensus-based, and in a era of global disagreements, unanimity is increasingly difficult to reach," stated one global leader. "It would be dishonest to claim that this summit has delivered everything that is needed. The disparity between our current position and what evidence necessitates remains alarmingly large."

When the world is to prevent the most severe impacts of climate breakdown, the international negotiations alone will prove insufficient.