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While dawn illuminated the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, negotiators remained trapped in a airless conference room, unaware whether it was day or night. Having spent 12 hours in tense discussions, with numerous ministers representing various coalitions of countries including the least developed nations to the wealthiest economies.

Patience wore thin, the air thick as exhausted delegates acknowledged the sobering reality: they would not reach a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The international climate negotiations faced the brink of complete breakdown.

The central impasse: Fossil fuels

Scientific evidence has shown for well over a century, the CO2 emissions produced by burning fossil fuels is heating up our planet to alarming levels.

However, during nearly three decades of yearly climate meetings, the urgent need to halt fossil fuel use has been referenced only once – in a resolution made two years ago at previous UN climate talks to "move beyond fossil fuels". Delegates from the Gulf states, Russia, and a few other countries were determined this would not be repeated.

Increasing pressure for change

At the same time, a growing number of countries were similarly resolved that advancement on this issue was vitally needed. They had developed a proposal that was attracting growing support and made it clear they were willing to dig in.

Developing countries desperately wanted to move forward on securing funding support to help them manage the growing impacts of environmental crises.

Turning point

During the night of Saturday, some delegates were ready to withdraw and force a collapse. "It was on the edge for us," stated one government representative. "I was ready to walk away."

The critical development occurred through talks with Saudi Arabia. Around 6am, principal delegates left the main group to hold a closed-door meeting with the chief Saudi negotiator. They encouraged wording that would obliquely recognise the global commitment to "transition away from fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Surprising consensus

Rather than explicitly namechecking fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the previous commitment". Upon deliberation, the Saudi delegation unexpectedly approved the wording.

Participants collapsed into relief. Cheers erupted. The deal was finalized.

With what became known as the "Amazon accord", the world took another small step towards the systematic reduction of fossil fuels – a faltering, insufficient step that will minimally impact the climate's continued progression towards catastrophe. But nevertheless a notable change from absolute paralysis.

Key elements of the agreement

• Alongside the subtle acknowledgment in the official document, countries will commence creating a plan to phase out fossil fuels
• This will be primarily a optional undertaking 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 likewise deferred to next year
• Developing countries secured a threefold increase to $120bn of annual finance to help them cope with the impacts of environmental crises
• This amount will not be completely provided until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "equitable change process" to help people working in polluting businesses move toward the renewable industry

Mixed reactions

While our planet teeters on the brink of climate "irreversible changes" that could devastate environments and plunge whole regions into chaos, the agreement was insufficient as the "giant leap" needed.

"The summit provided some small advances in the right direction, but considering the scale of the climate crisis, it has fallen short of the occasion," warned one climate expert.

This flawed deal might have been the maximum achievable, given the political challenges – including a US president who ignored the talks and remains committed to oil and coal, the rising tide of nationalist politics, continuing wars in different locations, unacceptable degrees of inequality, and global economic uncertainty.

"Major polluters – the energy conglomerates – were finally in the focus at the climate summit," comments one environmental advocate. "This represents progress on that. The opportunity is available. Now we must turn it into a real fire escape to a more secure planet."

Deep fissures revealed

While nations were able to applaud the gavelling through of the deal, Cop30 also exposed deep fissures in the sole international mechanism for addressing the climate crisis.

"UN negotiations are consensus-based, and in a era of international tensions, agreement is progressively challenging to reach," stated one global leader. "We should not suggest that these talks has achieved complete success that is needed. The gap between our current position and what evidence necessitates remains alarmingly large."

When the world is to avoid the gravest consequences of climate collapse, the international negotiations alone will prove insufficient.