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When dawn was breaking the Amazonian city of Belém on Saturday morning, representatives remained trapped in a enclosed conference room, unaware whether it was day or night. Having spent 12 hours in difficult discussions, with scores ministers representing 17 groups of countries from the most vulnerable nations to the most developed economies.

Tempers were short, the air heavy as sweaty delegates faced up to the grim reality: they were unlikely to achieve a comprehensive agreement in Brazil. The international climate negotiations hovered near the brink of total collapse.

The sticking point: Fossil fuels

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

Nevertheless, during more than three decades of annual climate meetings, the essential necessity to stop fossil fuel use has been addressed only once – in a agreement made two years ago at previous UN climate talks to "move beyond fossil fuels". Officials from the Arab Group, Russia, and a few other countries were determined this would not be repeated.

Growing momentum for change

Meanwhile, a growing number of countries were just as committed that progress on this issue was urgently necessary. They had developed a initiative that was earning growing support and made it apparent they were prepared to dig in.

Emerging economies desperately wanted to move forward on securing financial assistance to help them cope with the increasingly severe impacts of environmental crises.

Critical moment

In the pre-dawn period of Saturday, some delegates were prepared to leave and trigger failure. "The situation was precarious for us," stated one national delegate. "I was prepared to walk away."

The breakthrough came through talks with Saudi Arabia. Shortly after 6am, key negotiators split from the main group to hold a private conversation with the chief Saudi negotiator. They encouraged text that would obliquely recognise the global commitment to "shift from fossil fuels" made two years earlier in Dubai.

Surprising consensus

Instead of explicitly mentioning fossil fuels, the text would refer to "the UAE consensus". Upon deliberation, the Saudi delegation unexpectedly approved the wording.

The room expressed relief. Celebrations began. The settlement was finalized.

With what became known as the "Belém political package", the world took an incremental move towards the systematic reduction of fossil fuels – a faltering, inadequate step that will minimally impact the climate's steady march towards crisis. But nevertheless a important shift from complete stagnation.

Important aspects of the agreement

• In addition to the oblique commitment in the official document, countries will begin work a framework to phase out fossil fuels
• This will be largely a non-binding program led by Brazil that will report back 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 obtained a threefold increase to $120bn of yearly funding to help them manage the impacts of climate disasters
• This funding will not be delivered in full until 2035
• Workers will benefit from a "fair adjustment program" to help people working in polluting businesses shift to the renewable industry

Differing opinions

As the world approaches the brink of climate "critical thresholds" that could devastate environments and throw whole regions into disorder, the agreement was insufficient as the "major breakthrough" needed.

"Negotiators delivered some baby steps in the correct path, but in light of the severity of the climate crisis, it has failed to rise to the occasion," stated one policy director.

This imperfect deal might have been all that was possible, given the international tensions – including a Washington administration who shunned the talks and remains wedded to oil and coal, the growing influence of rightwing populism, persistent fighting in multiple regions, unacceptable degrees of inequality, and global economic uncertainty.

"The climate arsonists – the energy conglomerates – were finally in the spotlight at the climate summit," says one environmental advocate. "This represents progress on that. The opportunity is available. Now we must convert it to a actual pathway to a more secure planet."

Significant divisions revealed

While nations were able to welcome the formal approval of the deal, Cop30 also exposed major disagreements in the sole international mechanism for addressing the climate crisis.

"UN negotiations are agreement-dependent, and in a era of global disagreements, consensus is ever harder to reach," stated one international diplomat. "I cannot pretend that this summit has delivered everything that is needed. The difference between present circumstances and what science demands remains alarmingly large."

When the world is to avoid the worst ravages of climate crisis, the UN climate talks alone will fall far short.