The COP29 climate conference in Baku concluded on a tense note, with a contentious agreement on climate finance that underscored deep divides between wealthy and developing nations.
The deal, which pledges $300 billion annually by 2035 to help developing countries combat climate change, was hailed as a milestone by some but derided as insufficient by many.
Negotiations dragged into the early hours of the morning, with exhausted diplomats scrambling to finalize the agreement.
At several points, talks teetered on collapse as developing nations threatened to walk away, frustrated by the reluctance of richer countries to commit more funds.
Ultimately, the deal passed, but not without controversy.
While it marks a significant increase from the $100 billion annual pledge under previous agreements, many developing nations had demanded at least $500 billion to adequately address climate challenges.
“This COP has been a disaster for the developing world,” said Mohamed Adow, director of the African think tank Power Shift Africa. “It’s a betrayal by wealthy countries who claim to take climate change seriously.”
The final agreement also includes a broader $1.3 trillion annual target for climate action, most of which is expected to come from private sources.
However, wealthy nations resisted calls for more government-backed funding, citing political and economic constraints.
The deal “encourages” emerging economies, including China, to voluntarily contribute, but stops short of mandating their involvement.
This was a contentious issue, as the United States and the EU pushed for larger contributions from nations like China, the world’s largest greenhouse gas emitter.
UN Climate Chief Simon Stiell described the agreement as a compromise: “No country got everything they wanted, and we leave Baku with a mountain of work still to do. This is no time for victory laps.”
Meanwhile, the absence of firm language on phasing out fossil fuels—a commitment made at last year’s Dubai summit—raised concerns about backtracking.
Saudi Arabia, backed by other oil-producing nations, played a significant role in watering down this aspect of the text.
The backdrop of the talks was fraught with political challenges.
The return of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency in January and a growing right-wing backlash against climate policies in several Western nations have cast doubt on the feasibility of larger public funding commitments.
Small island nations, some of the most vulnerable to climate change, expressed disappointment with the slow pace of progress. “We needed bold action, but instead, we got hesitation,” a representative from the Alliance of Small Island States remarked.
Despite its flaws, the agreement signals the beginning of what COP29 President Mukhtar Babayev called “a new era for climate finance.”
However, for many, the fight for adequate funding and stronger commitments continues as the world faces an escalating climate crisis.
As temperatures rise and disasters grow more frequent, the stakes are higher than ever.
The question remains: will the promises made in Baku translate into meaningful action?