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While dawn illuminated the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, representatives remained trapped in a enclosed conference room, oblivious whether it was day or night. Having spent 12 hours in difficult discussions, with dozens ministers representing various coalitions of countries ranging from the poorest nations to the wealthiest economies.

Frustration mounted, the air stifling as weary delegates faced up to the harsh reality: there would not be a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The latest global climate summit teetered on the brink of total collapse.

The major obstacle: Fossil fuels

Scientific evidence has shown for nearly a century, the greenhouse gases produced by burning fossil fuels is warming our planet to alarming levels.

Yet, during more than three decades of yearly climate meetings, the urgent need to stop fossil fuel use has been referenced only once – in a agreement made two years ago at Cop28 to "move beyond fossil fuels". Delegates from the Middle Eastern nations, Russia, and a few other countries were resolved this would not happen again.

Growing momentum for change

Meanwhile, a increasing coalition of countries were similarly resolved that progress on this issue was crucially important. They had formulated a proposal that was attracting increasing support and made it clear they were willing to stand their ground.

Less wealthy nations desperately wanted to advance on securing funding support to help them cope with the growing impacts of environmental crises.

Breaking point

By the early hours of Saturday, some delegates were willing to walk out and cause breakdown. "The situation was precarious for us," commented one national delegate. "I considered to walk away."

The critical development happened through negotiations with Saudi Arabia. Shortly after 6am, principal delegates split from the main group to hold a closed-door meeting with the lead Saudi negotiator. They encouraged text that would subtly reference the global commitment to "move beyond fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Unexpected agreement

Rather than explicitly mentioning fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the Dubai agreement". Following reflection, the Saudi delegation unexpectedly accepted the wording.

Participants collapsed into relief. Celebrations began. The agreement was finalized.

With what became known as the "Brazil agreement", the world took an incremental move towards the phaseout of fossil fuels – a faltering, insufficient step that will barely interrupt the climate's continued progression towards catastrophe. But nevertheless a significant departure from total inaction.

Key elements of the agreement

• Complementing the subtle acknowledgment in the legally agreed text, countries will begin work a roadmap to gradually eliminate fossil fuels
• This will be mostly a voluntary initiative led by Brazil that will deliver findings 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 tripling to $120bn of annual finance to help them manage 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 polluting businesses move toward the renewable industry

Varied responses

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.

"Cop30 gave us some baby steps in the right direction, but considering 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 geopolitical headwinds – including a US president who avoided the talks and remains aligned with oil and coal, the growing influence of rightwing populism, ongoing conflicts in various areas, extreme measures of inequality, and global economic instability.

"Fossil fuel corporations – the energy conglomerates – were finally in the focus at these negotiations," notes one environmental advocate. "This represents progress on that. The opportunity is open. Now we must turn it into a actual pathway to a safer world."

Significant divisions revealed

Although nations were able to welcome the formal approval of the deal, Cop30 also exposed deep fissures in the only global process for confronting the climate crisis.

"Climate conferences are agreement-dependent, and in a time of international tensions, consensus is ever harder to reach," stated one global leader. "It would be dishonest to claim that Cop30 has achieved complete success that is needed. The disparity between our current position and what evidence necessitates remains alarmingly large."

When the world is to avoid the worst ravages of climate crisis, the global discussions alone will fall far short.