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As dawn was breaking the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, representatives remained stuck in a airless conference room, unaware whether it was day or night. Having spent 12 hours in difficult discussions, with dozens ministers representing 17 groups of countries from the most vulnerable nations to the most developed economies.

Frustration mounted, the air thick as weary delegates confronted the sobering reality: they were unlikely to achieve a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The 30th UN climate conference faced the brink of total collapse.

The central impasse: Fossil fuels

As science has told us for well over a century, the greenhouse gases produced by utilizing fossil fuels is warming our planet to alarming levels.

However, during over three decades of regular climate meetings, the essential necessity to halt fossil fuel use has been referenced only once – in a resolution made two years ago at Cop28 to "move beyond fossil fuels". Officials from the Middle Eastern nations, Russia, and several other countries were determined this would not happen again.

Mounting support for change

At the same time, a expanding group of countries were equally determined that progress on this issue was crucially important. They had formulated a proposal that was gathering increasing support and made it apparent they were ready to stand their ground.

Developing countries urgently needed to make progress on securing funding support to help them manage the already disastrous impacts of extreme weather.

Turning point

During the night of Saturday, some delegates were ready to withdraw and force a collapse. "It was on the edge for us," commented one government representative. "I considered to walk away."

The pivotal moment occurred through negotiations with Saudi Arabia. Around 6am, principal delegates left the main group to hold a confidential discussion with the chief Saudi negotiator. They urged language that would obliquely recognise the global commitment to "move beyond fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Unanticipated resolution

Rather than explicitly mentioning fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the previous commitment". Following reflection, the Saudi delegation unexpectedly agreed to the wording.

The room collapsed into relief. Applause rang out. The agreement was finalized.

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 minimally impact the climate's steady march towards disaster. But nevertheless a significant departure from total inaction.

Important aspects of the agreement

• In addition to the indirect reference in the legally agreed text, countries will start developing a plan to systematically reduce fossil fuels
• This will be largely a non-binding program led by Brazil that will report back next year
• Addressing the necessary cuts in greenhouse gas emissions to remain below the 1.5C limit was also put off to next year
• Developing countries secured a significant expansion to $120bn of regular financial support to help them adapt to the impacts of environmental crises
• This funding will not be delivered in full until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "just transition mechanism" to help people working in fossil fuel sectors move toward the renewable industry

Differing opinions

With global conditions teeters on the brink of climate "critical thresholds" that could devastate environments and throw whole regions into crisis, the agreement was far from the "significant advancement" needed.

"Negotiators delivered some baby steps in the correct path, but given the scale of the climate crisis, it has fallen short of the occasion," stated 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 increasing presence of rightwing populism, continuing wars in multiple regions, unacceptable degrees of inequality, and global economic uncertainty.

"The climate arsonists – the fossil fuel giants – were at last in the focus at these negotiations," comments one policy convener. "We have crossed a threshold on that. The opportunity is accessible. Now we must convert it to a real fire escape to a safer world."

Significant divisions revealed

While nations were able to welcome the gavelling through of the deal, Cop30 also revealed significant divisions in the primary worldwide framework for addressing the climate crisis.

"UN negotiations are agreement-dependent, and in a era of global disagreements, agreement is progressively challenging to reach," stated one global leader. "I cannot pretend that this summit has achieved complete success that is needed. The disparity between where we are and what evidence necessitates remains concerningly substantial."

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