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

Tempers were short, the air thick as sweaty delegates faced up to the grim reality: they were unlikely to achieve a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The 30th UN climate conference teetered on the brink of complete breakdown.

The major obstacle: Fossil fuels

Scientific evidence has shown for well over a century, the greenhouse gases produced by utilizing fossil fuels is warming our planet to alarming levels.

Yet, during more than three decades of yearly climate meetings, the urgent need to stop fossil fuel use has been mentioned only once – in a agreement made two years ago at previous UN climate talks to "transition away from fossil fuels". Officials from the Arab Group, Russia, and a few other countries were determined this would not occur another time.

Growing momentum for change

Simultaneously, a expanding group of countries were equally determined that movement on this issue was vitally needed. They had formulated a plan that was gathering increasing support and made it clear they were ready to dig in.

Less wealthy nations desperately wanted to move forward on securing funding support to help them manage the increasingly severe impacts of extreme weather.

Critical moment

By the early hours of Saturday, some delegates were ready to walk out and trigger failure. "It was on the edge for us," commented one government representative. "I was ready to walk away."

The breakthrough occurred through discussions with Saudi Arabia. Around 6am, principal delegates separated from the main group to hold a private conversation with the head Saudi negotiator. They pressed text that would subtly reference the global commitment to "transition away from fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Unexpected agreement

Instead of explicitly namechecking fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the UAE consensus". After consideration, the Saudi delegation surprisingly approved the wording.

The room collapsed into relief. Applause rang out. The agreement was completed.

With what became known as the "Belém political package", the world took a modest advance towards the gradual elimination of fossil fuels – a uncertain, inadequate step that will minimally impact the climate's continued progression towards disaster. But nevertheless a significant departure from complete stagnation.

Major components of the agreement

• Alongside the indirect reference in the legally agreed text, countries will start developing a roadmap to phase out fossil fuels
• This will be primarily a optional undertaking led by Brazil that will report back next year
• Addressing the essential decreases in greenhouse gas emissions to not exceed the 1.5C limit was similarly postponed to next year
• Developing countries obtained a significant expansion to $120bn of annual finance to help them cope with the impacts of climate disasters
• This funding will not be fully available until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "equitable change process" to help people working in high-carbon industries transition to the renewable industry

Mixed reactions

While our planet approaches the brink of climate "critical thresholds" that could destroy ecosystems and throw whole regions into chaos, the agreement was insufficient as the "giant leap" needed.

"Negotiators delivered some small advances in the proper course, but in light of the magnitude of the climate crisis, it has failed to rise to the occasion," warned one environmental analyst.

This flawed deal might have been the maximum achievable, given the international tensions – including a US president who ignored the talks and remains aligned with oil and coal, the increasing presence of rightwing populism, persistent fighting in different locations, intolerable levels of inequality, and global economic volatility.

"Fossil fuel corporations – the oil and gas companies – were finally in the spotlight at the climate summit," notes one climate activist. "We have crossed a threshold on that. The political space is available. Now we must transform it into a genuine solution to a safer world."

Deep fissures revealed

Even as nations were able to welcome the formal approval of the deal, Cop30 also highlighted significant divisions in the sole international mechanism for confronting the climate crisis.

"UN negotiations are consensus-based, and in a era of international tensions, consensus is ever harder to reach," stated one global leader. "We should not suggest that this summit has provided all that is needed. The gap between our current position and what research requires remains dangerously wide."

If the world is to avert the most severe impacts of climate collapse, the international negotiations alone will not be nearly enough.