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While dawn illuminated the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, negotiators remained stuck in a windowless conference room, uncertain whether it was day or night. For more than 12 hours in difficult discussions, with scores ministers representing 17 groups of countries from the poorest nations to the richest economies.

Tempers were short, the air heavy as exhausted delegates faced up to the grim reality: there would not be a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The 30th UN climate conference hovered near the brink of total collapse.

The central impasse: Fossil fuels

As science has told us for more than a century, the CO2 emissions produced by utilizing fossil fuels is heating up our planet to alarming levels.

Nevertheless, during nearly three decades of annual climate meetings, the essential necessity to stop fossil fuel use has been referenced only once – in a decision made two years ago at previous UN climate talks to "shift from fossil fuels". Delegates from the Gulf states, Russia, and multiple other countries were resolved this would not happen again.

Mounting support for change

At the same time, a increasing coalition of countries were just as committed that progress on this issue was vitally needed. They had formulated a proposal that was attracting increasing support and made it clear they were willing to hold firm.

Developing countries urgently needed to make progress on securing funding support to help them manage the increasingly severe impacts of environmental crises.

Breaking point

By the early hours of Saturday, some delegates were ready to withdraw and trigger failure. "It was on the edge for us," commented one government representative. "I was prepared to walk away."

The pivotal moment happened through talks with Saudi Arabia. Shortly after 6am, principal delegates split from the main group to hold a closed-door meeting with the lead Saudi negotiator. They encouraged text that would obliquely recognise 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 surprisingly approved the wording.

The room expressed relief. Applause rang out. The agreement was completed.

With what became known as the "Brazil agreement", the world took an incremental move towards the systematic reduction of fossil fuels – a uncertain, insufficient step that will barely interrupt the climate's continued progression towards catastrophe. But nevertheless a important shift from absolute paralysis.

Important aspects of the agreement

• Alongside the subtle acknowledgment in the legally agreed text, countries will commence creating a plan to phase out fossil fuels
• This will be primarily a voluntary initiative led by Brazil that will provide updates next year
• Addressing the necessary cuts in greenhouse gas emissions to not exceed the 1.5C limit was likewise deferred to next year
• Developing countries achieved a tripling to $120bn of annual finance to help them adapt to the impacts of climate disasters
• This sum will not be fully available until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "fair adjustment program" to help people working in high-carbon industries transition to the renewable industry

Varied responses

As the world approaches the brink of climate "tipping points" that could destroy ecosystems and plunge whole regions into disorder, the agreement was insufficient as the "significant advancement" needed.

"The summit provided some baby steps in the right direction, but given the magnitude of the climate crisis, it has not met the occasion," cautioned one climate expert.

This imperfect deal might have been all that was possible, given the political challenges – including a American leader who shunned the talks and remains committed to oil and coal, the rising tide of rightwing populism, persistent fighting in different locations, intolerable levels of inequality, and global economic volatility.

"Fossil fuel corporations – the energy conglomerates – were ultimately in the spotlight at Cop30," says one environmental advocate. "There is no turning back on that. The platform is accessible. Now we must turn it into a actual pathway to a safer world."

Deep fissures revealed

While nations were able to celebrate the formal approval of the deal, Cop30 also revealed deep fissures in the sole international mechanism for tackling the climate crisis.

"UN negotiations are agreement-dependent, and in a period of global disagreements, agreement is increasingly difficult to reach," observed one global leader. "We should not suggest that this summit has achieved complete success that is needed. The difference between where we are and what research requires remains dangerously wide."

Should the world is to prevent the most severe impacts of climate collapse, the UN climate talks alone will not be nearly enough.