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While dawn was breaking the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, representatives remained stuck in a enclosed conference room, uncertain whether it was day or night. They had been 12 hours in tense discussions, with scores ministers representing 17 groups of countries including the least developed nations to the most developed economies.

Frustration mounted, the air heavy as weary delegates faced up to the harsh reality: they would not reach a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The latest global climate summit teetered on 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 heating up our planet to alarming levels.

Nevertheless, during over three decades of regular climate meetings, the essential necessity to stop fossil fuel use has been referenced only once – in a agreement made two years ago at Cop28 to "shift from fossil fuels". Officials from the Arab Group, Russia, and multiple other countries were determined this would not happen again.

Mounting support for change

Simultaneously, a increasing coalition of countries were equally determined that advancement on this issue was urgently necessary. They had formulated a plan that was attracting growing support and made it apparent they were ready to dig in.

Emerging economies desperately wanted to advance on securing economic resources to help them cope with the already disastrous impacts of climate disasters.

Critical moment

By the early hours of Saturday, some delegates were ready to leave and trigger failure. "We were close for us," commented one government representative. "I was ready to walk away."

The critical development came through negotiations with Saudi Arabia. Near 6am, key negotiators split from the main group to hold a closed-door meeting with the lead Saudi negotiator. They urged language that would subtly reference the global commitment to "shift from fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Unanticipated resolution

Instead of explicitly mentioning fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the Dubai agreement". Upon deliberation, the Saudi delegation unforeseeably agreed to the wording.

The room collapsed into relief. Cheers erupted. The agreement was done.

With what became known as the "Amazon accord", the world took a modest advance towards the gradual elimination of fossil fuels – a hesitant, inadequate step that will scarcely affect the climate's continued progression towards catastrophe. But nevertheless a notable change from absolute paralysis.

Key elements of the agreement

• In addition to the subtle acknowledgment in the formal agreement, countries will start developing a roadmap to systematically reduce fossil fuels
• This will be mostly a optional undertaking led by Brazil that will deliver findings next year
• Addressing the essential decreases in greenhouse gas emissions to stay within the 1.5C limit was similarly postponed to next year
• Developing countries secured a tripling to $120bn of regular financial support to help them manage the impacts of extreme weather
• This funding will not be completely provided until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "fair adjustment program" to help people working in polluting businesses move toward the clean economy

Differing opinions

With global conditions teeters on the brink of climate "critical thresholds" that could eliminate habitats and throw whole regions into chaos, the agreement was far from the "giant leap" needed.

"Negotiators delivered some small advances in the correct path, but in light of the severity of the climate crisis, it has failed to rise to the occasion," warned one climate expert.

This imperfect deal might have been the best attainable, given the international tensions – including a American leader who shunned the talks and remains committed to oil and coal, the growing influence of nationalist politics, ongoing conflicts in multiple regions, intolerable levels of inequality, and global economic instability.

"The climate arsonists – the fossil fuel giants – were at last in the crosshairs at these negotiations," comments one climate activist. "This represents progress on that. The opportunity is open. Now we must turn it into a actual pathway to a more secure planet."

Major disagreements revealed

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

"UN negotiations are consensus-based, and in a time of international tensions, unanimity is ever harder to reach," commented one senior UN official. "I cannot pretend that this summit has provided all that is needed. The gap between where we are and what science demands remains dangerously wide."

If the world is to prevent the worst ravages of climate collapse, the UN climate talks alone will not be nearly enough.