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

Frustration mounted, the air thick as sweaty delegates faced up to the sobering reality: they would not reach a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The international climate negotiations teetered on the brink of abject failure.

The central impasse: Fossil fuels

As science has told us for well over a century, the greenhouse gases produced by utilizing fossil fuels is warming our planet to critical levels.

Nevertheless, during more than three decades of yearly climate meetings, the crucial requirement to stop fossil fuel use has been mentioned only once – in a resolution made two years ago at previous UN climate talks to "shift from fossil fuels". Officials from the Middle Eastern nations, Russia, and several other countries were resolved this would not occur another time.

Increasing pressure for change

Meanwhile, a growing number of countries were equally determined that movement on this issue was vitally needed. They had formulated a initiative that was attracting increasing support and made it clear they were prepared to dig in.

Emerging economies urgently needed to make progress on securing economic resources to help them address the already disastrous impacts of extreme weather.

Breaking point

By the early hours of Saturday, some delegates were ready to withdraw and cause breakdown. "We were close for us," remarked one national delegate. "I was prepared to walk away."

The critical development occurred through talks with Saudi Arabia. Near 6am, key negotiators left the main group to hold a closed-door meeting with the head Saudi negotiator. They urged wording that would indirectly acknowledge the global commitment to "transition away from fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Unexpected agreement

As opposed to explicitly mentioning fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the previous commitment". Following reflection, the Saudi delegation surprisingly accepted the wording.

The room showed visible relief. Celebrations began. The agreement 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 disaster. But nevertheless a notable change from complete stagnation.

Important aspects of the agreement

• Complementing the oblique commitment in the official document, countries will start developing a framework to systematically reduce fossil fuels
• This will be mostly a non-binding program led by Brazil that will provide updates next year
• Addressing the required reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to not exceed the 1.5C limit was also put off to next year
• Developing countries achieved a tripling to $120bn of yearly funding to help them cope with the impacts of climate disasters
• This sum will not be completely provided until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "just transition mechanism" to help people working in high-carbon industries shift to the renewable industry

Differing opinions

With global conditions approaches the brink of climate "critical thresholds" that could devastate environments and throw whole regions into chaos, the agreement was far from the "giant leap" needed.

"Negotiators delivered some modest progress in the proper course, but given the magnitude of the climate crisis, it has fallen short of the occasion," stated one environmental analyst.

This limited deal might have been the best attainable, given the geopolitical headwinds – including a American leader who ignored the talks and remains committed to oil and coal, the growing influence of nationalist politics, persistent fighting in multiple regions, intolerable levels of inequality, and global economic instability.

"Major polluters – the oil and gas companies – were ultimately in the spotlight at Cop30," comments one environmental advocate. "We have crossed a threshold on that. The opportunity is accessible. Now we must convert it to a actual pathway to a more secure planet."

Significant divisions revealed

Even as nations were able to applaud the official adoption of the deal, Cop30 also exposed deep fissures in the sole international mechanism for tackling the climate crisis.

"UN negotiations are unanimity-required, and in a time of geopolitical divides, consensus is ever harder to reach," stated one international diplomat. "It would be dishonest to claim that these talks has provided all that is needed. The difference between present circumstances and what evidence necessitates remains concerningly substantial."

Should the world is to avert the most severe impacts of climate crisis, the global discussions alone will not be nearly enough.