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As dawn illuminated the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, representatives remained confined in a airless conference room, oblivious whether it was day or night. For more than 12 hours in tense discussions, with dozens ministers representing various coalitions of countries including the poorest nations to the wealthiest economies.

Tempers were short, the air stifling as exhausted delegates confronted the harsh reality: there would not be a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The latest global climate summit faced the brink of total collapse.

The sticking point: Fossil fuels

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

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

Growing momentum for change

Meanwhile, a increasing coalition of countries were equally determined that movement on this issue was crucially important. They had created a initiative that was attracting expanding support and made it clear they were prepared to stand their ground.

Emerging economies desperately wanted to make progress on securing economic resources to help them manage the increasingly severe impacts of extreme weather.

Turning point

During the night of Saturday, some delegates were ready to withdraw and force a collapse. "We were close for us," commented one government representative. "I was prepared to walk away."

The pivotal moment occurred through negotiations with Saudi Arabia. Around 6am, principal delegates split from the main group to hold a private conversation with the chief Saudi negotiator. They urged wording that would subtly reference the global commitment to "transition away from fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Surprising consensus

As opposed to explicitly namechecking fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the UAE consensus". Following reflection, the Saudi delegation surprisingly approved the wording.

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

With what became known as the "Amazon accord", the world took an incremental move towards the phaseout of fossil fuels – a uncertain, limited step that will barely interrupt the climate's continued progression towards disaster. But nevertheless a notable change from absolute paralysis.

Important aspects of the agreement

• Alongside the oblique commitment in the official document, countries will commence creating a roadmap to phase out fossil fuels
• This will be largely a voluntary initiative led by Brazil that will deliver findings 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 significant expansion to $120bn of yearly funding to help them adapt to the impacts of extreme weather
• This amount will not be fully available until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "just transition mechanism" to help people working in polluting businesses move toward the clean economy

Differing opinions

With global conditions hovers near the brink of climate "critical thresholds" that could destroy ecosystems and plunge whole regions into chaos, the agreement was not the "major breakthrough" needed.

"Negotiators delivered some modest progress in the correct path, but in light of the severity 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 political challenges – including a American leader who avoided the talks and remains wedded to oil and coal, the increasing presence of conservative movements, ongoing conflicts in multiple regions, intolerable levels of inequality, and global economic volatility.

"Fossil fuel corporations – the fossil fuel giants – were finally in the focus at these negotiations," comments one policy convener. "This represents progress on that. The political space is open. Now we must convert it to a real fire escape to a more secure planet."

Significant divisions revealed

Although nations were able to welcome the official adoption of the deal, Cop30 also highlighted significant divisions in the sole international mechanism for addressing the climate crisis.

"Climate conferences are unanimity-required, and in a era of global disagreements, unanimity is progressively challenging to reach," commented one senior UN official. "We should not suggest that Cop30 has provided all that is needed. The gap between our current position and what evidence necessitates remains dangerously wide."

When the world is to avert the worst ravages of climate collapse, the UN climate talks alone will fall far short.