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As dawn was breaking the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, delegates remained stuck in a enclosed conference room, oblivious whether it was day or night. For more than 12 hours in difficult discussions, with dozens ministers representing multiple blocs of countries including the most vulnerable nations to the most developed economies.

Frustration mounted, the air heavy as exhausted delegates confronted the sobering reality: there would not be a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The international climate negotiations faced the brink of complete breakdown.

The sticking point: Fossil fuels

Research has demonstrated for nearly a century, the carbon dioxide produced by consuming fossil fuels is warming our planet to dangerous levels.

However, during over three decades of annual climate meetings, the crucial requirement to halt fossil fuel use has been referenced only once – in a resolution made two years ago at Cop28 to "move beyond fossil fuels". Delegates from the Gulf states, Russia, and several other countries were determined this would not happen again.

Mounting support for change

At the same time, a growing number of countries were just as committed that advancement on this issue was vitally needed. They had created a initiative that was earning increasing support and made it evident they were ready to hold firm.

Emerging economies strongly sought to move forward on securing funding support to help them address the increasingly severe impacts of environmental crises.

Critical moment

During the night of Saturday, some delegates were willing to walk out and cause breakdown. "We were close for us," commented one government representative. "I was prepared to walk away."

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

Unexpected agreement

Instead of explicitly referencing fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the UAE consensus". Following reflection, the Saudi delegation unexpectedly approved the wording.

Delegates expressed relief. Applause rang out. The settlement was finalized.

With what became known as the "Brazil agreement", the world took an incremental move towards the gradual elimination of fossil fuels – a uncertain, insufficient step that will scarcely affect the climate's ongoing trajectory towards crisis. But nevertheless a significant departure from absolute paralysis.

Important aspects of the agreement

• Complementing the subtle acknowledgment in the legally agreed text, countries will commence creating a framework to gradually eliminate 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 stay within the 1.5C limit was likewise deferred to next year
• Developing countries achieved a tripling to $120bn of yearly funding to help them cope with the impacts of extreme weather
• This funding will not be delivered in full until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "fair adjustment program" to help people working in polluting businesses shift to the sustainable sector

Differing opinions

With global conditions hovers near the brink of climate "tipping points" that could eliminate habitats and force whole regions into crisis, the agreement was insufficient as the "major breakthrough" needed.

"Cop30 gave us some modest progress in the right direction, but considering the severity of the climate crisis, it has not met the occasion," warned one environmental analyst.

This limited deal might have been the best attainable, given the international tensions – including a Washington administration who shunned 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 instability.

"The climate arsonists – the oil and gas companies – were ultimately in the spotlight at the climate summit," comments one environmental advocate. "There is no turning back on that. The platform is open. Now we must convert it to a genuine solution to a protected environment."

Significant divisions revealed

While nations were able to welcome the official adoption of the deal, Cop30 also exposed major disagreements in the only global process for addressing the climate crisis.

"International summits are agreement-dependent, and in a time of geopolitical divides, agreement is progressively challenging to reach," observed one senior UN official. "It would be dishonest to claim that these talks has achieved complete success that is needed. The disparity between our current position and what evidence necessitates remains alarmingly large."

Should the world is to prevent the gravest consequences of climate breakdown, the international negotiations alone will fall far short.