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As dawn was breaking the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, delegates remained trapped in a airless conference room, oblivious whether it was day or night. They had been 12 hours in difficult discussions, with numerous ministers representing multiple blocs of countries including the least developed nations to the most developed economies.

Tempers were short, the air heavy as weary delegates faced up to the grim reality: they would not reach a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The 30th UN climate conference faced the brink of complete breakdown.

The major obstacle: Fossil fuels

Research has demonstrated for nearly a century, the CO2 emissions produced by utilizing fossil fuels is heating up our planet to dangerous levels.

Yet, during nearly three decades of annual climate meetings, the crucial requirement to cease fossil fuel use has been mentioned only once – in a decision made two years ago at the Dubai climate summit to "shift from fossil fuels". Officials from the Middle Eastern nations, Russia, and a few other countries were resolved this would not happen again.

Growing momentum for change

At the same time, a expanding group of countries were similarly resolved that progress on this issue was urgently necessary. They had developed a initiative that was gathering expanding support and made it apparent they were ready to stand their ground.

Developing countries urgently needed to advance on securing financial assistance to help them cope with the growing impacts of climate disasters.

Turning point

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

The breakthrough came through talks with Saudi Arabia. Around 6am, senior representatives separated from the main group to hold a closed-door meeting with the chief Saudi negotiator. They pressed text that would indirectly acknowledge the global commitment to "move beyond fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Unanticipated resolution

Rather than explicitly referencing fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the UAE consensus". After consideration, the Saudi delegation surprisingly agreed to the wording.

Participants collapsed into relief. Celebrations began. The deal was done.

With what became known as the "Brazil agreement", the world took a modest advance towards the phaseout of fossil fuels – a hesitant, inadequate step that will scarcely affect the climate's continued progression towards catastrophe. But nevertheless a significant departure from total inaction.

Major components of the agreement

• Complementing the oblique commitment in the legally agreed text, countries will start developing a framework to gradually eliminate fossil fuels
• This will be mostly a optional undertaking led by Brazil that will report back next year
• Addressing the necessary cuts in greenhouse gas emissions to not exceed the 1.5C limit was also put off 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 sum will not be delivered in full until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "equitable change process" to help people working in high-carbon industries shift to the renewable industry

Varied responses

While our planet approaches the brink of climate "critical thresholds" that could eliminate habitats and throw whole regions into chaos, the agreement was far from the "significant advancement" needed.

"The summit provided some modest progress in the proper course, but in light of the magnitude of the climate crisis, it has fallen short of the occasion," cautioned one environmental analyst.

This imperfect deal might have been all that was possible, given the international tensions – including a US president who ignored the talks and remains wedded to oil and coal, the rising tide of conservative movements, ongoing conflicts in different locations, intolerable levels of inequality, and global economic uncertainty.

"The climate arsonists – the oil and gas companies – were ultimately in the crosshairs at the climate summit," says one climate activist. "This represents progress on that. The platform is accessible. Now we must transform it into a real fire escape to a safer world."

Major disagreements revealed

Although nations were able to celebrate the formal approval of the deal, Cop30 also revealed deep fissures in the primary worldwide framework for addressing the climate crisis.

"Climate conferences are consensus-based, and in a era of international tensions, unanimity is progressively challenging to reach," observed one international diplomat. "We should not suggest that these talks has delivered everything that is needed. The gap between where we are and what evidence necessitates remains dangerously wide."

When the world is to avoid the gravest consequences of climate breakdown, the UN climate talks alone will fall far short.