Earth Science News
CLIMATE SCIENCE
COP29 talks stall from start with fight over agenda
Reuters Events SMR and Advanced Reactor 2025
COP29 talks stall from start with fight over agenda
By Sara Hussein and Ivan Couronne
Baku (AFP) Nov 11, 2024

The COP29 talks opened Monday with calls for global cooperation and fresh warnings about climate disasters -- but proceedings quickly ground to a halt in a fight over the agenda.

Donald Trump's re-election is already hanging over the talks in Baku where negotiators are meant to agree new funding for climate action in poorer countries.

As they opened, UN climate chief Simon Stiell told countries: "Now is the time to show that global cooperation is not down for the count."

And he warned rich countries struggling to agree a new funding target to "dispense with any idea that climate finance is charity."

"An ambitious new climate finance goal is entirely in the self-interest of every nation, including the largest and wealthiest."

But the official proceedings in the capital of oil- and gas-rich Azerbaijan stalled almost immediately.

"They're not going to resume until they resolve... the agenda," said Alden Meyer, senior associate at climate change think tank E3G.

The COP29 president "can't put negotiating teams to work" until they adopt it, he added.

- Trillions needed -

Negotiators must increase a $100 billion-a-year target to help developing nations prepare for worsening climate impacts and wean their economies off fossil fuels.

How much will be on offer, who will pay, and who can access the funds are some of the major points of contention.

Developing countries are pushing for trillions of dollars and insist money should be mostly grants rather than loans, but negotiators are tight-lipped over what final figure might emerge.

COP29 President Mukhtar Babayev acknowledged the need was "in the trillions" but said a more "realistic goal" was somewhere in the hundreds of billions.

"These negotiations are complex and difficult," the former executive of Azerbaijan's national oil company said at the opening of the summit.

Developing countries warn that without adequate finance, they will struggle to offer ambitious updates to their climate goals, which countries are required to submit by early next year.

"The global North owes the global South a climate debt," said Tasneem Essop, executive director of Climate Action Network.

"We will not leave this COP if the ambition level on the finance... doesn't match the scale at which finance must be delivered."

- Few G20 leaders -

The small group of developed countries that currently contributes the money wants the donor pool expanded to include other rich nations and top emitters, including China and the Gulf states.

That is firmly rejected by Beijing, with one Chinese official warning Sunday during a closed-door session that the talks should not aim to "renegotiate" existing agreements.

Just a handful of leaders from the Group of 20, whose countries account for nearly 80 percent of global emissions, are attending. US President Joe Biden is staying away.

Afghanistan will however be sending a delegation for the first time since the Taliban took power. They are expected to have observer status.

Diplomats have insisted that the absences, and Trump's win, will not detract from the serious work at hand.

The talks come with fresh warnings that the world is far off track to meet the goals of the Paris agreement.

The UN said Monday that 2024 is on track to break new temperature records, and the Paris climate agreement's goals were now "in great peril".

- Warmest decade -

The period from 2015 to 2024 will also be the warmest decade ever recorded, the UN's World Meteorological Organization said in a new report.

The climate deal commits to keep warming below 2 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels, preferably below 1.5C.

If the world tops that level this year, it would not be an immediate breach of the Paris deal, which measures temperatures over decades.

But it suggests much greater climate action is needed.

Last month, the UN warned the world is on a path towards a catastrophic 3.1C of warming this century based on current actions.

More than 51,000 people are expected at the talks, which run from November 11 to 22.

For the second year running the talks will be hosted by a country heavily reliant on fossil fuels, after the United Arab Emirates last year.

Azerbaijan has also been accused of stifling dissent by persecuting political opponents, detaining activists and suffocating independent media.

Related Links
Climate Science News - Modeling, Mitigation Adaptation

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
CLIMATE SCIENCE
Afghanistan says to attend UN climate talks, first since Taliban takeover
Kabul (AFP) Nov 9, 2024
An Afghan delegation will attend the upcoming UN climate change summit in Azerbaijan, the foreign ministry spokesman told AFP on Saturday, marking a first since the Taliban government came to power. Afghanistan is ranked as the country sixth most vulnerable to climate change and Taliban authorities have pushed to participate in COP summits, saying their political isolation shouldn't bar them from international climate talks. Having tried and failed to attend UN climate change summits in Egypt an ... read more

CLIMATE SCIENCE
Climate crisis worsening already 'hellish' refugee situation: UN

Spain PM accused of 'blackmail' by tying budget to flood aid; Royals return to flood zone

COP29: Climate disaster fund for poor countries 'ready'

Fukushima nuclear debris arrives at lab after secret journey

CLIMATE SCIENCE
New AI microbiome tool offers breakthroughs in forensics and epidemiology

NASA to transform in-space manufacturing with laser beam welding collaboration

Startup turns mining waste into critical metals for the U.S.

A smart screen for cooling and sun protection

CLIMATE SCIENCE
Drinking water outage hits half of France's Mayotte

Will living by the sea remain viable?

US hopes river pact with Mexico will reduce water scarcity

Curtin and NASA unlock ocean secrets from space

CLIMATE SCIENCE
Measurements from Lost Seaglider reveal impact of warm ocean water on Antarctic ice

Deep ocean study offers new insights into ancient ice age shift

Was Snowball Earth truly a global event? new study provides strongest evidence yet

First Antarctic amber discovery opens new window to ancient climate

CLIMATE SCIENCE
Economic woes sour prospects for China's dairy farmers

White truffles, Italy's gold, menaced by climate change

More than 33 million Nigerians face hunger next year: report

Scientists harvest nutrient-rich rice grown in space

CLIMATE SCIENCE
Schools shut as flood-hit Spain braces for more torrential rain

Fifth storm in under a month bears down on Philippines

Airlines around Asia ground Bali flights after volcano erupts

Evacuations, call for aid as Typhoon Usagi approaches Philippines

CLIMATE SCIENCE
What Trump's re-election could mean for Africa

Senegal grapples with floods, economy ahead of parliamentary elections

Mali detains CEO of gold mining firm Resolute

Burkina army launches probe after mutilation video leak

CLIMATE SCIENCE
Location of ancient ochre mine found in Eswatini

Chimpanzees show improved performance on difficult computer tasks with an audience

New findings on Denisovans reveal their role in shaping early human genetics

Human culture's distinctiveness lies in its open-ended nature

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.