The United Nations Climate Change Conference, known as COP29, took place in Baku, Azerbaijan, with nearly 50,000 attendees from 200 countries. The focus was on reaching a deal on climate finance, with developing countries seeking $1 trillion annually by the end of the decade. However, only $250 billion annually by 2035 from wealthy nations to poorer ones was pledged in a draft deal, falling far short of expectations. With poor attendance by world leaders, especially from wealthy nations, and the shadow of President-elect Donald Trump’s victory hanging over the conference, reaching a consensus was difficult.
The conference was further complicated by the absence of key leaders from major economies like the United States, China, and other G7 countries. While some reassurance was provided by U.S. officials that climate efforts would continue despite Trump, lack of commitment and cooperation from major polluting countries remained a challenge. The issue of who should foot the bill for climate change mitigation efforts was a significant point of contention, with smaller nations disproportionately affected by climate change expressing frustration with major polluters sidestepping financial responsibility.
In addition to geopolitical tensions, the conference also saw the presence of first-time attendees from Taliban-led Afghanistan, a country highly vulnerable to climate change. The urgency of proactive climate action was emphasized by experts and signatories of a letter calling for a new approach to U.N. climate talks. The struggle to secure adequate funding for climate finance and to address climate change remains a pressing global challenge.
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