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As dawn was breaking the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, negotiators remained confined in a airless conference room, uncertain whether it was day or night. They had been 12 hours in tense discussions, with dozens ministers representing 17 groups of countries from the least developed nations to the richest economies.

Tempers were short, the air thick as weary delegates acknowledged the grim reality: there would not be a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The 30th UN climate conference hovered near the brink of complete breakdown.

The central impasse: Fossil fuels

Scientific evidence has shown for nearly a century, the carbon dioxide produced by burning fossil fuels is increasing temperatures on our planet to dangerous levels.

However, during nearly three decades of regular climate meetings, the crucial requirement to stop fossil fuel use has been addressed only once – in a resolution made two years ago at the Dubai climate summit to "transition away from fossil fuels". Representatives from the Gulf states, Russia, and several other countries were adamant this would not happen again.

Mounting support for change

Simultaneously, a expanding group of countries were equally determined that progress on this issue was crucially important. They had developed a plan that was earning growing support and made it evident they were prepared to hold firm.

Developing countries desperately wanted to make progress on securing financial assistance to help them manage the already disastrous impacts of extreme weather.

Critical moment

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

The breakthrough happened through negotiations with Saudi Arabia. Near 6am, senior representatives 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 "shift from fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Surprising consensus

As opposed to explicitly referencing fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the Dubai agreement". After consideration, the Saudi delegation unexpectedly approved the wording.

Delegates collapsed into relief. Cheers erupted. The deal was done.

With what became known as the "Amazon accord", the world took an incremental move towards the systematic reduction of fossil fuels – a uncertain, inadequate step that will minimally impact the climate's continued progression towards catastrophe. But nevertheless a important shift from complete stagnation.

Major components of the agreement

• Alongside the indirect reference in the official document, countries will commence creating a framework to systematically reduce fossil fuels
• This will be primarily a non-binding program led by Brazil that will deliver findings next year
• Addressing the necessary cuts in greenhouse gas emissions to remain below the 1.5C limit was also put off to next year
• Developing countries achieved a significant expansion to $120bn of regular financial support to help them manage the impacts of climate disasters
• This sum will not be completely provided until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "equitable change process" to help people working in fossil fuel sectors move toward the clean economy

Varied responses

As the world approaches the brink of climate "critical thresholds" that could destroy ecosystems and plunge whole regions into chaos, the agreement was far from the "significant advancement" needed.

"Cop30 gave us some modest progress in the proper course, but in light of the severity of the climate crisis, it has fallen short of the occasion," warned one policy director.

This flawed deal might have been the best attainable, given the international tensions – including a American leader who shunned the talks and remains wedded to oil and coal, the rising tide of rightwing populism, continuing wars in various areas, intolerable levels of inequality, and global economic volatility.

"Major polluters – the oil and gas companies – were finally in the focus at these negotiations," comments one climate activist. "We have crossed a threshold on that. The political space is accessible. Now we must turn it into a genuine solution to a safer world."

Deep fissures revealed

Even as nations were able to welcome the gavelling through of the deal, Cop30 also exposed deep fissures in the primary worldwide framework for confronting the climate crisis.

"UN negotiations are agreement-dependent, and in a era of global disagreements, agreement is progressively challenging to reach," observed one international diplomat. "I cannot pretend that these talks has achieved complete success that is needed. The disparity between where we are and what evidence necessitates remains concerningly substantial."

Should the world is to prevent the most severe impacts of climate breakdown, the UN climate talks alone will not be nearly enough.