During overtime United Nations climate talks, negotiators from small island states and the least-developed nations walked out of negotiations, expressing frustration that their climate finance interests were being ignored.
Tensions rose as negotiators from rich and poor countries gathered in a room at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan to work on a deal for finance to help developing countries address climate change. However, a new proposal was rejected, particularly by African nations and small island states.
Cedric Schuster, the Samoan chairman of the Alliance of Small Island States, stated, “We’ve just walked out. We came to this COP for a fair deal and feel that we haven’t been heard.” Evans Njewa, chair of the Least Developed Countries (LDC) group, added, “The current deal is unacceptable for us. We need to discuss with other developing countries how to proceed.”
Climate activists also voiced their dissatisfaction, heckling United States climate envoy John Podesta and accusing the US of not contributing its fair share towards addressing climate change.
Developing countries have criticized wealthy nations for attempting to push through a smaller financial aid package through attrition tactics. Small island nations, particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, accused the host country presidency of neglecting them during the negotiations.
Panama’s chief negotiator, Juan Carlos Monterrey Gomez, emphasized the need for a fair deal, stating, “Every passing minute weakens us. They don’t have that issue. They have massive delegations.”
The latest official draft proposed $250bn annually by 2035, falling short of the $1 trillion-plus needed each year, according to experts. Developing nations seek support for adaptation and mitigation measures, loss and damage compensation, and transitioning to clean energy.
Despite challenges, some participants remained optimistic about the talks. However, there is a consensus that a strong and fair deal is crucial for the planet and its people.
