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While dawn illuminated the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, negotiators remained trapped in a airless conference room, oblivious whether it was day or night. Having spent 12 hours in strained discussions, with numerous ministers representing various coalitions of countries from the most vulnerable nations to the most developed economies.

Frustration mounted, the air heavy as weary delegates acknowledged the grim reality: they would not reach a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The international climate negotiations faced the brink of abject failure.

The sticking point: Fossil fuels

As science has told us for nearly a century, the CO2 emissions produced by utilizing fossil fuels is increasing temperatures on our planet to dangerous levels.

Yet, during nearly three decades of regular climate meetings, the urgent need to cease fossil fuel use has been mentioned only once – in a decision made two years ago at Cop28 to "transition away from fossil fuels". Officials from the Gulf states, Russia, and multiple other countries were adamant this would not happen again.

Mounting support for change

Meanwhile, a expanding group of countries were just as committed that movement on this issue was crucially important. They had developed a initiative that was gathering growing support and made it apparent they were prepared to stand their ground.

Emerging economies desperately wanted to make progress on securing funding support to help them address the increasingly severe impacts of extreme weather.

Critical moment

By the early hours of Saturday, some delegates were willing to walk out and trigger failure. "We were close for us," stated one national delegate. "I was ready to walk away."

The pivotal moment happened through discussions with Saudi Arabia. Shortly after 6am, key negotiators split from the main group to hold a private conversation with the head Saudi negotiator. They pressed wording that would subtly reference the global commitment to "shift from fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Unanticipated resolution

Rather than explicitly referencing fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the previous commitment". After consideration, the Saudi delegation unexpectedly approved the wording.

The room showed visible relief. Cheers erupted. The settlement was done.

With what became known as the "Amazon accord", the world took another small step towards the gradual elimination of fossil fuels – a faltering, limited step that will scarcely affect the climate's ongoing trajectory towards crisis. But nevertheless a important shift from complete stagnation.

Major components of the agreement

• Complementing the oblique commitment in the formal agreement, countries will start developing a framework to phase out fossil fuels
• This will be mostly a non-binding program led by Brazil that will provide updates 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 achieved a tripling to $120bn of yearly funding to help them cope with the impacts of climate disasters
• This sum 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 renewable industry

Differing opinions

As the world teeters on the brink of climate "tipping points" that could destroy ecosystems and plunge whole regions into chaos, the agreement was insufficient as the "major breakthrough" needed.

"Cop30 gave us some baby steps in the proper course, but in light of the severity of the climate crisis, it has not met the occasion," cautioned one environmental analyst.

This imperfect deal might have been the maximum achievable, given the political challenges – including a Washington administration who ignored the talks and remains committed to oil and coal, the increasing presence of nationalist politics, continuing wars in multiple regions, extreme measures of inequality, and global economic instability.

"The climate arsonists – the fossil fuel giants – were ultimately in the spotlight at the climate summit," notes one policy convener. "There is no turning back on that. The political space is open. Now we must turn it into a genuine solution to a safer world."

Significant divisions revealed

While nations were able to welcome the official adoption of the deal, Cop30 also revealed major disagreements in the primary worldwide framework for addressing the climate crisis.

"Climate conferences are consensus-based, and in a time of international tensions, agreement is ever harder to reach," stated one global leader. "We should not suggest that this summit has delivered everything that is needed. The difference between where we are and what science demands remains dangerously wide."

Should the world is to avert the gravest consequences of climate crisis, the global discussions alone will fall far short.