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While dawn crept over the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, negotiators remained stuck in a windowless conference room, unaware whether it was day or night. They had been 12 hours in difficult discussions, with dozens ministers representing various coalitions of countries ranging from the most vulnerable nations to the wealthiest economies.

Tempers were short, the air heavy as exhausted delegates confronted the sobering reality: there would not be a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The latest global climate summit hovered near the brink of complete breakdown.

The central impasse: Fossil fuels

As science has told us for nearly a century, the carbon dioxide produced by consuming fossil fuels is increasing temperatures on our planet to alarming levels.

However, during over three decades of regular climate meetings, the urgent need to cease fossil fuel use has been mentioned only once – in a agreement made two years ago at Cop28 to "move beyond fossil fuels". Officials from the Middle Eastern nations, Russia, and multiple other countries were adamant this would not be repeated.

Mounting support for change

Simultaneously, a expanding group of countries were similarly resolved that progress on this issue was vitally needed. They had created a proposal that was gathering expanding support and made it evident they were prepared to dig in.

Less wealthy nations desperately wanted to move forward on securing economic resources to help them manage the increasingly severe impacts of climate disasters.

Critical moment

In the pre-dawn period of Saturday, some delegates were ready to withdraw and trigger failure. "It was on the edge for us," stated one energy minister. "I was ready to walk away."

The breakthrough came through discussions with Saudi Arabia. Around 6am, key negotiators split from the main group to hold a private conversation with the lead Saudi negotiator. They encouraged language that would subtly reference the global commitment to "shift from fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Unanticipated resolution

As opposed to explicitly referencing fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the Dubai agreement". Following reflection, the Saudi delegation unforeseeably approved the wording.

Participants expressed relief. Cheers erupted. The deal was done.

With what became known as the "Brazil agreement", the world took a modest advance towards the gradual elimination of fossil fuels – a hesitant, insufficient step that will minimally impact the climate's steady march towards disaster. But nevertheless a notable change from complete stagnation.

Key elements of the agreement

• Complementing the subtle acknowledgment in the official document, countries will start developing a plan to gradually eliminate fossil fuels
• This will be primarily a optional undertaking led by Brazil that will report back next year
• Addressing the essential decreases in greenhouse gas emissions to remain below the 1.5C limit was similarly postponed to next year
• Developing countries obtained a threefold increase to $120bn of regular financial support to help them adapt to the impacts of climate disasters
• This funding will not be fully available until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "just transition mechanism" to help people working in high-carbon industries shift to the clean economy

Varied responses

As the world teeters on the brink of climate "irreversible changes" that could destroy ecosystems and plunge whole regions into crisis, the agreement was far from the "giant leap" needed.

"The summit provided some baby steps in the proper course, but considering the magnitude of the climate crisis, it has failed to rise to the occasion," warned one policy director.

This imperfect deal might have been the maximum achievable, given the international tensions – including a Washington administration who avoided the talks and remains committed to oil and coal, the increasing presence of nationalist politics, persistent fighting in multiple regions, unacceptable degrees of inequality, and global economic instability.

"Fossil fuel corporations – the energy conglomerates – were ultimately in the focus at these negotiations," notes one environmental advocate. "This represents progress on that. The opportunity is available. Now we must convert it to a real fire escape to a more secure planet."

Deep fissures revealed

Although nations were able to applaud the gavelling through of the deal, Cop30 also highlighted deep fissures in the only global process for addressing the climate crisis.

"Climate conferences are consensus-based, and in a time of international tensions, unanimity is progressively challenging to reach," observed one global leader. "We should not suggest that these talks has delivered everything that is needed. The difference between our current position and what evidence necessitates remains alarmingly large."

Should the world is to avert the most severe impacts of climate breakdown, the international negotiations alone will not be nearly enough.