UN Climate Chief Urges G20 Action as COP29 Talks Stall

AFP/APP

Baku: With negotiations deadlocked at COP29 in Azerbaijan, UN climate chief Simon Stiell has called on G20 leaders to provide much-needed political momentum as they prepare to meet in Brazil next week.

“There is a long way to go, but everyone is very aware of the stakes,” Stiell said in a statement on Saturday. He stressed that G20 leaders must signal that climate action remains a priority for the world’s largest economies and polluters.

At the heart of the stalemate is a proposal for an annual $1.3 trillion fund to assist developing nations in adapting to climate impacts and transitioning to clean energy.

Disputes persist over the final amount, funding mechanisms, and who will contribute, with developed nations urging China and Gulf states to join the donor list.

Developing countries, heavily burdened by debt, insist on grants rather than loans. Small-island states threatened by rising sea levels have requested $39 billion, while African nations seek $220 billion from the fund.

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The latest 25-page draft agreement reflects these divisions, with numerous unresolved options. Host nation Azerbaijan’s deputy lead negotiator, Samir Bejanov, acknowledged the challenges ahead. “There is still much, much to do,” he said, urging negotiators to rise above skepticism.

Observers noted rising tensions in the negotiating rooms, with sharp divides between Northern and Southern nations over critical issues. Climate advocate Friederike Roder criticized the current draft for “insufficient progress” and called for decisive leadership at the upcoming G20 summit in Rio.

With ministers set to join the talks next week, the COP29 negotiations remain fraught, underscoring the urgent need for compromise and collaboration.