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As dawn was breaking the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, representatives remained stuck in a windowless conference room, oblivious whether it was day or night. For more than 12 hours in strained discussions, with numerous ministers representing 17 groups of countries including the most vulnerable nations to the richest economies.

Patience wore thin, the air thick as sweaty delegates acknowledged the sobering reality: there would not be a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The latest global climate summit hovered near the brink of abject failure.

The central impasse: Fossil fuels

Scientific evidence has shown for nearly a century, the carbon dioxide produced by utilizing fossil fuels is warming our planet to dangerous levels.

However, during nearly three decades of yearly climate meetings, the urgent need to cease fossil fuel use has been referenced only once – in a agreement made two years ago at Cop28 to "move beyond fossil fuels". Officials from the Arab Group, Russia, and a few other countries were adamant this would not happen again.

Growing momentum for change

Simultaneously, a expanding group of countries were similarly resolved that movement on this issue was crucially important. They had formulated a proposal that was attracting expanding support and made it clear they were willing to hold firm.

Less wealthy nations desperately wanted to advance on securing economic resources to help them cope with the growing impacts of environmental crises.

Critical moment

During the night of Saturday, some delegates were ready to withdraw and cause breakdown. "The situation was precarious for us," commented one energy minister. "I considered to walk away."

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

Unanticipated resolution

Instead of explicitly mentioning fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the previous commitment". Following reflection, the Saudi delegation unexpectedly accepted the wording.

Participants collapsed into relief. Celebrations began. The settlement was finalized.

With what became known as the "Amazon accord", the world took a modest advance towards the systematic reduction of fossil fuels – a hesitant, inadequate step that will scarcely affect the climate's ongoing trajectory towards disaster. But nevertheless a notable change from absolute paralysis.

Major components of the agreement

• In addition to the indirect reference in the official document, countries will start developing a plan 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 stay within the 1.5C limit was likewise deferred to next year
• Developing countries achieved a significant expansion to $120bn of annual finance to help them adapt to the impacts of environmental crises
• This sum will not be fully available until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "fair adjustment program" to help people working in polluting businesses shift to the renewable industry

Differing opinions

With global conditions hovers near the brink of climate "irreversible changes" that could destroy ecosystems and force whole regions into crisis, the agreement was far from the "significant advancement" needed.

"Negotiators delivered some baby steps in the correct path, but given the severity of the climate crisis, it has failed to rise to the occasion," cautioned one environmental analyst.

This imperfect deal might have been the maximum achievable, given the international tensions – including a American leader who avoided the talks and remains committed to oil and coal, the rising tide of conservative movements, ongoing conflicts in various areas, extreme measures of inequality, and global economic uncertainty.

"Major polluters – the oil and gas companies – were finally in the crosshairs at Cop30," says one policy convener. "We have crossed a threshold on that. The political space is available. Now we must convert it to a actual pathway to a protected environment."

Major disagreements revealed

Even as nations were able to celebrate the gavelling through of the deal, Cop30 also highlighted significant divisions in the sole international mechanism for tackling the climate crisis.

"Climate conferences are unanimity-required, and in a period of international tensions, consensus is increasingly difficult to reach," observed one senior UN official. "We should not suggest that these talks has achieved complete success that is needed. The disparity between present circumstances and what science demands remains alarmingly large."

If the world is to avoid the worst ravages of climate crisis, the international negotiations alone will fall far short.