UN climate talks in disarray as developing nations stage walkout at COP29

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🗞️ Driving the news: COP29 climate talks faced disruption as developing nations, including small island states and least developed countries, walked out over dissatisfaction with proposed climate finance
• Delegates criticized wealthy nations for failing to meet funding demands for climate adaptation and mitigation
• Host nation Azerbaijan urged all parties to compromise and avoid a failed summit

🔭 The context: Developing nations are seeking $1.3 trillion annually, far exceeding the $250 billion by 2035 offered in the latest draft, to address the escalating impacts of climate change
• Wealthy nations, constrained by economic challenges and geopolitical crises, have been accused of delaying tactics to weaken negotiations
• The funding shortfall stems from commitments made at the Paris Agreement in 2015, where historical emitters pledged support for vulnerable nations

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: A failure to secure adequate climate finance would leave vulnerable nations unable to adapt to worsening climate impacts, such as rising seas and extreme weather
• Bridging the gap is critical to maintaining global solidarity and momentum toward limiting warming to 1.5°C
• Without consensus, the COP process itself risks losing credibility

⏭️ What's next: Negotiators are meeting directly to resolve differences, but time is running out. Wealthy nations must present an improved funding package or risk a breakdown in trust
• A deal is essential to reinforce global climate cooperation and avoid long-term damage to the UN’s climate agenda

💬 One quote: “If we don’t get a deal, I think it will be a fatal wound to this process, to the planet, to people,” - Juan Carlos Monterrey Gomez, Panama's chief negotiator

📈 One stat: The latest draft pledges $250 billion annually by 2035, falling short of the $1.3 trillion requested by developing nations

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