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While dawn crept over the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, negotiators remained trapped in a enclosed conference room, oblivious whether it was day or night. Having spent 12 hours in difficult discussions, with scores ministers representing multiple blocs of countries from the least developed nations to the most developed economies.

Frustration mounted, the air thick as exhausted delegates acknowledged 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 major obstacle: Fossil fuels

Research has demonstrated for well over a century, the carbon dioxide produced by burning fossil fuels is warming our planet to critical levels.

Yet, during over three decades of annual climate meetings, the crucial requirement to cease fossil fuel use has been referenced only once – in a decision made two years ago at the Dubai climate summit to "transition away from fossil fuels". Delegates from the Gulf states, Russia, and several other countries were adamant this would not happen again.

Mounting support for change

Meanwhile, a growing number of countries were just as committed that movement on this issue was vitally needed. They had formulated a plan that was attracting growing support and made it evident they were ready to hold firm.

Less wealthy nations strongly sought to move forward on securing economic resources to help them address the already disastrous impacts of climate disasters.

Turning point

During the night of Saturday, some delegates were prepared to leave and cause breakdown. "It was on the edge for us," commented one energy minister. "I was ready to walk away."

The pivotal moment came through discussions with Saudi Arabia. Shortly after 6am, principal delegates separated from the main group to hold a closed-door meeting with the chief Saudi negotiator. They encouraged wording that would indirectly acknowledge the global commitment to "transition away from fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Unexpected agreement

Rather than explicitly mentioning fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the previous commitment". Upon deliberation, the Saudi delegation unforeseeably agreed to the wording.

Delegates collapsed into relief. Applause rang out. The agreement was completed.

With what became known as the "Brazil agreement", the world took another small step towards the gradual elimination of fossil fuels – a uncertain, limited step that will scarcely affect the climate's steady march towards disaster. But nevertheless a significant departure from complete stagnation.

Major components of the agreement

• In addition to the subtle acknowledgment in the official document, countries will begin work a framework to systematically reduce fossil fuels
• This will be primarily a non-binding program led by Brazil that will report back next year
• Addressing the essential decreases in greenhouse gas emissions to not exceed the 1.5C limit was similarly postponed to next year
• Developing countries obtained a significant expansion to $120bn of regular financial support to help them cope with the impacts of climate disasters
• This amount will not be fully available until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "fair adjustment program" to help people working in polluting businesses move toward the clean economy

Varied responses

As the world hovers near the brink of climate "irreversible changes" that could eliminate habitats and throw whole regions into crisis, the agreement was far from the "giant leap" needed.

"Negotiators delivered some baby steps in the correct path, but considering the scale of the climate crisis, it has fallen short of the occasion," cautioned one policy director.

This imperfect deal might have been all that was possible, given the geopolitical headwinds – including a US president who shunned the talks and remains committed to oil and coal, the increasing presence of conservative movements, ongoing conflicts in various areas, extreme measures of inequality, and global economic volatility.

"Major polluters – the energy conglomerates – were at last in the focus at the climate summit," comments one environmental advocate. "We have crossed a threshold on that. The political space is available. Now we must turn it into a real fire escape to a more secure planet."

Major disagreements revealed

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

"International summits are unanimity-required, and in a era of international tensions, consensus is progressively challenging to reach," observed one senior UN official. "It would be dishonest to claim that this summit has delivered everything that is needed. The disparity between our current position and what evidence necessitates remains dangerously wide."

If the world is to prevent the worst ravages of climate collapse, the global discussions alone will fall far short.