Nations return to deadlocked United Nations climate talks on Monday. G-20 leaders gathered on the other side of the world are expected to rally support for the agreement for poorer countries. Halfway through two weeks of negotiations in Azerbaijan’s cavernous stadium, diplomats are no closer to an agreement that will define the success or failure of COP 29.
Government ministers leading talks in Baku have until Friday to break a deadlock over how to provide the developing world with the money it needs to combat global warming. Pressure is mounting on G20 leaders to back the stalled process as they gather in Brazil for their annual summit.
“A successful outcome of COP-29 is still possible, but it will require leadership and understanding, especially from the G-20 countries,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday. Guterres is attending the G-20 summit of the world’s largest economies. “Naturally, the focus is on the G-20. They account for 80 percent of global emissions”, he said, calling on the group to ‘lead by example’.
– Pressure on the organizers –
The conference began in the shadow of Donald Trump’s re-election in the United States, and efforts to drum up support for the global climate fight suffered another setback after Argentina’s delegation withdrew from the summit. At COP 29, nearly 200 nations are negotiating a new agreement to provide developing countries with sufficient funds to cut emissions of ‘heat-trapping’ gases and build resilience against increasing climate shocks.
According to independent economists appointed by the United Nations to assess the needs of developing countries other than China, this will require 10 billion dollars in foreign aid annually by the end of the decade. Climate-at-risk countries want developed countries to pay a part of it, but donors say they cannot raise that amount alone and the private sector should also be involved. They also want rich emerging economies, particularly China, to share the burden without having to pay for climate finance.
The European Union is the largest contributor to international climate finance, but it faces political and budgetary pressures and could be left alone if the US refuses to pay under Trump. Negotiations in Baku have been glacially slow, but the meeting between Chinese and European officials was seen as a glimmer of hope in an otherwise dismal week.
According to observers, the COP-29 host, Azerbaijan, lacks diplomatic experience while leading the most complex climate negotiations in years, while significant leadership is needed. Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev has come under fire for defending fossil fuels. Also, because of his aggressive comments about France’s colonial history, the Paris climate envoy canceled his ticket to Baku.
In addition to the financial deadlock, there is also a debate over whether countries should repeat last year’s historic commitment to move the world away from fossil fuels at COP-29. On the first day, the start of the summit was delayed by a few hours due to the dispute whether to include this topic in the official agenda of COP-29.
“We are very disappointed, the emission reduction efforts were nothing more than a blank page in COP-29”, Veronika Scholastica Bagi, speaking on behalf of the European Union, said on Saturday.
The G20 (Group of Twenty) consists of 19 countries and the European Union (EU), making a total of 20 members. These members represent the world’s largest economies, accounting for around 85% of global GDP, 75% of international trade, and two-thirds of the world population.
Member Countries:
- Argentina
- Australia
- Brazil
- Canada
- China
- France
- Germany
- India
- Indonesia
- Italy
- Japan
- Mexico
- Russia
- Saudi Arabia
- South Africa
- South Korea
- Turkey
- United Kingdom
- United States
Plus:
- European Union (EU) (as a single entity).
The G20 also invites guest countries and international organizations (such as the United Nations, IMF, and World Bank) to its meetings, but they are not permanent members.
