At COP29 in Azerbaijan, a global climate conference designed to combat climate change, hypocrisy took centre stage.

Over 65 private jets—double the number from last year—ferried attendees to the event, including wealthy celebrities and corporate moguls.

This isn’t just ironic; it’s a stark display of the gaping disconnect between the climate crisis and the elites who perpetuate it.

As world leaders and activists discuss reducing emissions, those attending such events are increasing theirs by the minute, flying private jets emit up to 500 times more carbon dioxide per person than commercial flights.

The global aviation industry, notorious for its massive carbon footprint, is one of the largest contributors to climate change.

Yet, the private jet sector, representing just 0.003 per cent of the world’s population, accounts for an outsized portion of those emissions.

The rich are flying in their carbon-intensive planes, using the same platform that calls for urgent action on global warming.

From high-profile events like a COP to the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the pattern is clear: major international gatherings attract private jet fleets, fuelling the very environmental destruction they purport to address.

In a world where cutting emissions by 42 per cent by 2030 is deemed essential to limiting warming, the irony is nauseating. Celebrities like Taylor Swift, and Kylie Jenner, and even corporate giants like Jeff Bezos are under fire for their extravagant carbon footprints.

The business of climate activism is booming, yet the real movers—those benefiting from such events—remain firmly detached from the reality they claim to be solving.

&nbsp;The hypocrisy is glaring.

At a time when businesses and governments are scrambling to reduce emissions, the so-called climate champions continue to live lavishly, fuelling the fire they vow to extinguish.

Until the elites take genuine action, the fight against climate change remains a well-funded farce.

(With inputs from agencies)

At COP29 in Azerbaijan, a global climate conference designed to combat climate change, hypocrisy took centre stage. Over 65 private jets—double the number from last year—ferried attendees to the event, including wealthy celebrities and corporate moguls.

At COP29 in Azerbaijan, a global climate conference designed to combat climate change, hypocrisy took centre stage. Over 65 private jets—double the number from last year—ferried attendees to the event, including wealthy celebrities and corporate moguls. This isn’t just ironic; it’s a stark display of the gaping disconnect between the climate crisis and the elites who perpetuate it. As world leaders and activists discuss reducing emissions, those attending such events are increasing theirs by the minute, flying private jets emit up to 500 times more carbon dioxide per person than commercial flights. The global aviation industry, notorious for its massive carbon footprint, is one of the largest contributors to climate change. Yet, the private jet sector, representing just 0.003 per cent of the world’s population, accounts for an outsized portion of those emissions. The rich are flying in their carbon-intensive planes, using the same platform that calls for urgent action on global warming. From high-profile events like a COP to the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the pattern is clear: major international gatherings attract private jet fleets, fuelling the very environmental destruction they purport to address. In a world where cutting emissions by 42 per cent by 2030 is deemed essential to limiting warming, the irony is nauseating. Celebrities like Taylor Swift, and Kylie Jenner, and even corporate giants like Jeff Bezos are under fire for their extravagant carbon footprints. The business of climate activism is booming, yet the real movers—those benefiting from such events—remain firmly detached from the reality they claim to be solving. The hypocrisy is glaring. At a time when businesses and governments are scrambling to reduce emissions, the so-called climate champions continue to live lavishly, fuelling the fire they vow to extinguish. Until the elites take genuine action, the fight against climate change remains a well-funded farce. (With inputs from agencies)

Private jets and hypocrisy take centre stage at COP29

The world approved a bitterly negotiated climate deal Sunday but poorer nations most at the mercy of worsening disasters dismissed a $300 billion a year pledge from wealthy historic polluters as insultingly low.

The world approved a bitterly negotiated climate deal Sunday but poorer nations most at the mercy of worsening disasters dismissed a $300 billion a year pledge from wealthy historic polluters as insultingly low. After two exhausting weeks of chaotic bargaining and sleepless nights, nearly 200 nations pushed through the contentious finance pact in the early hours in a sports stadium in Azerbaijan. But the applause had barely subsided when India delivered a full-throated rejection of the "abysmally poor" deal, kicking off a firestorm of criticism from across the developing world. Also read: US SEC summons Gautam Adani, nephew Sagar Adani in $265 million bribery case "It's a paltry sum," thundered India's delegate Chandni Raina. "This document is little more than an optical illusion. This, in our opinion, will not address the enormity of the challenge we all face." Sierra Leone's climate minister Jiwoh Abdulai said it showed a "lack of goodwill" from rich countries to stand by the world's poorest as they confront rising seas and harsher droughts. Nigeria's envoy Nkiruka Maduekwe put it even more bluntly: "This is an insult." Some countries had accused Azerbaijan, an oil and gas exporter, of lacking the will to meet the moment in a year defined by costly climate disasters and on track to become the hottest on record. But at protests throughout COP29, developed nations, and major economies like the European Union, the United States and Japan were accused of negotiating in bad faith, making a fair deal impossible. Developing nations arrived in the Caspian Sea city of Baku hoping to secure a massive financial boost from rich countries many times above their existing pledge of $100 billion a year. Tina Stege, climate envoy for the Marshall Islands, said she would return home with only a "small portion" of what she fought for, but not empty-handed. "It isn't nearly enough, but it's a start," said Stege, whose atoll nation homeland faces an existential threat from creeping sea levels. No time to celebrate Nations had struggled at COP29 to reconcile long-standing divisions over how much-developed nations most accountable for historic greenhouse gas pollution should provide to poorer countries least responsible but most impacted by Earth's rapid warming. The meeting also saw stalling on the promise to "transition away" from fossil fuels, the main driver of global heating. That pledge, a key achievement of COP28 in Dubai, was scrubbed from the final Baku deal. Also read: COP29: Nearly 200 countries approve $300 billion for poor nations in climate deal rejected by India The Least Developed Countries bloc of 45 nations slammed the COP29 outcome as a "travesty", adding that it failed to make progress on curbing warming or deliver enough cash to protect the most vulnerable. "This is not just a failure; it is a betrayal," the group said in a statement. Nations have agreed to try to limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial times. Currently, the world is on track for devastating warming of between 2.6C and 3.1C this century, according to the UN. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he had "hoped for a more ambitious outcome" and appealed to governments to see it as a starting point. Developed countries only put the $300 billion figure on the table on Saturday after COP29 went into extra time and diplomats worked through the night to improve an earlier spurned offer. Bleary-eyed diplomats, huddled anxiously in groups, were still polishing the final phrasing on the plenary floor in the dying hours before the deal passed. UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband hailed "a critical eleventh-hour deal at the eleventh hour for the climate". At points, the talks appeared on the brink of collapse. Delegates stormed out of meetings, fired shots across the bow, and threatened to walk away from the negotiating table should rich nations not cough up more cash. In the end -- despite repeating that "no deal is better than a bad deal" -- developing nations did not stand in the way of an agreement. 'Historic' US President Joe Biden cast the agreement reached in Baku as a "historic outcome". EU climate envoy Wopke Hoekstra said it would be remembered as "the start of a new era for climate finance". The agreement commits developed nations to pay at least $300 billion a year by 2035 to help developing countries cut emissions and prepare for worsening disasters. It falls short of the $390 billion that economists commissioned by the United Nations had deemed a fair share contribution by developed nations. The US and EU pushed to have newly wealthy emerging economies like China -- the world's largest emitter -- chip in. Wealthy nations said it was politically unrealistic to expect more in direct government funding at a time of geopolitical uncertainty and economic belt-tightening. Donald Trump, a sceptic of both climate change and foreign assistance, was elected just days before COP29 began and his victory cast a pall over the UN talks. Other countries, particularly in the EU -- the largest contributor of climate finance -- saw right-wing backlashes against the green agenda, not fertile conditions for raising big sums of public money. The final deal "encourages" developing countries to make contributions voluntarily, reflecting no change for China, which already provides climate finance on its terms. The deal also posits a larger overall target of $1.3 trillion per year to cope with rising temperatures and disasters, but most would come from private sources. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

‘This is an insult,’ Developing nations rage over COP29’s $300 billion climate deal

Wealthy nations raised their offer for climate finance for poorer nations to $300 billion Saturday at COP29 negotiations, with growing doubts that all countries will leave happy with the outcome.

Wealthy nations raised their offer for climate finance for poorer nations to $300 billion Saturday at COP29 negotiations, with growing doubts that all countries will leave happy with the outcome. Negotiators worked through the night in a sports stadium in the Caspian Sea city of Baku in a search for compromise as the two-week COP29 conference dragged into an extra day. In a year set to be the hottest ever recorded, developing nations bearing the brunt of rising drought and disasters flatly rejected Friday an initial offer of $250 billion per year by 2035. On Saturday, wealthy countries – whose ranks include the European Union, the United States, Britain and Japan – raised the sum to $300 billion, said multiple sources with close knowledge of the negotiations. Also read: COP29 delegates still appear far from reaching consensus "We're trying to get a good deal," British Energy Secretary Ed Miliband told AFP as he shuttled between meetings. US climate envoy John Podesta said countries had worked through the night in pursuit of a "good outcome". But the EU's climate commissioner Wopke Hoekstra said negotiators were not out of the woods yet. "We're doing everything we can on each of the axes to build bridges and to make this into a success. But it is iffy whether we will succeed," he said. Ali Mohamed, chair of the African Group of Negotiators, told AFP that developing nations had made clear that without more money the COP could fail. "No deal is better than a bad deal," said Mohamed, who is also Kenya's climate envoy. South African environment minister Dion George, however, said: "I think being ambitious at this point is not going to be very useful." "What we are not up for is going backwards or standing still," he said. "We might as well just have stayed at home then." 'Ripped off' Juan Carlos Monterrey Gomez, Panama's outspoken climate negotiator, said he was "optimistic" after leaving a meeting with EU counterparts. "We can get somewhere," said Gomez. The revised offer from rich countries came with conditions in other parts of the broader climate deal under discussion in Azerbaijan. The EU in particular wants an annual review on global efforts to phase out fossil fuels, which are the main drivers of global warming. This has run into opposition from Saudi Arabia, which has sought to water down a landmark pledge to transition away from oil, gas and coal made at COP28 last year. "We will not allow the most vulnerable, especially the small island states, to be ripped off by the new, few rich fossil fuel emitters," said German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. Irish climate minister Eamon Ryan said he was "hopeful" for a deal but that a clearer picture would emerge later in the day, when a new text is expected. Ryan told AFP developing countries needed money "but also we have to put a halt to the advance of fossil fuels." A coalition of more than 300 activist groups accused historic polluters most responsible for climate change of skirting their obligation, and urged developing nations to stand firm. "You claim to champion a rules-based system, yet flout the rules when they don't suit your interests, putting at risk billions of people and life on Earth," the non-governmental organisations wrote in an open letter. Wealthy nations counter that it is politically unrealistic to expect more in direct government funding. The US earlier this month elected former president Donald Trump, a sceptic of both climate change and foreign assistance, and a number of other Western countries have seen right-wing backlashes against the green agenda. Saudis fighting for fossil fuels The draft deal posits a larger overall target of $1.3 trillion per year to cope with rising temperatures and disasters, but most would come from private sources. Even $250 billion would be a step up from the $100 billion now provided by wealthy nations under a commitment set to expire. A group of developing countries had demanded at least $500 billion, with some saying that increases were less than met the eye due to inflation. Experts commissioned by the United Nations to assess the needs of developing countries said $250 billion was "too low" and by 2035 rich nations should be providing at least $390 billion. This figure was taken up by Brazil, the host of next year's COP30, which says $390 billion should be the sole responsibility of wealthier countries. The US and EU have wanted newly wealthy emerging economies like China – the world's largest emitter – to chip in. China, which remains classified as a developing nation under the UN framework, provides climate assistance but wants to keep doing so on its own voluntary terms. While China has generally taken a low-key and cooperative stance in Baku, oil-rich Saudi Arabia has pushed hard for weaker language on fossil fuels and, like China, has fought against being obliged to provide aid, one veteran activist from a developing country said. Azerbaijan, an authoritarian state that relies on oil and gas exports, has been accused of lacking the experience and bandwidth to steer such complex negotiations. Its leader Ilham Aliyev opened the conference by railing against Western nations and hailing fossil fuels as a "gift of God". Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Wealthy nations raise climate finance offer to $300bn at COP29 as the summit extends in Baku

The United Nations climate body released a new draft on Thursday (Nov. 21), outlining potential options for the COP29 summit's main objective which is deciding how much financial support wealthier nations should provide to poorer countries for fighting climate change.

The United Nations climate body released a new draft on Thursday (Nov. 21), outlining potential options for the COP29 summit's main objective which is deciding how much financial support wealthier nations should provide to poorer countries for fighting climate change. However, progress has been slow at the talks in Baku, Azerbaijan, as delegates near the summit's scheduled conclusion on Friday. What does the latest document say? The latest text, which was delayed by several hours, highlights unresolved issues surrounding the annual climate finance target, but it does not clarify what should count toward the financial commitments, who should contribute, and how much each country should pay. Developed and developing nations: How do they see climate finance? The document, now reduced to 10 pages from its original length, presents contrasting views from developed and developing nations. Developing countries emphasise that the funds should primarily consist of grants or grant-equivalent contributions. They also argue that financial aid provided by developing nations to each other, such as from larger economies like China, should not be included in the official target. Also read: Russia launched ICBM, claims Ukraine, calls it ‘unprecedented escalation’ On the other hand, wealthier nations advocate for a broader definition of climate finance that includes contributions beyond grants and expands the pool of donor countries. The equation to solve for 'X' Notably, the draft does not specify a concrete annual funding figure, leaving it as "X." This placeholder reflects the hesitation of major donor nations, including European Union members, to commit to a number before finalising the agreement's framework and contributor base. The COP29 presidency has assured delegates that a revised version of the text, including potential figures, will be released overnight to ease negotiations. 'Imbalanced, unworkable and unacceptable' "The text we now have... is imbalanced, unworkable and unacceptable," stated Wopke Hoekstra, the European Union's climate commissioner. Panama's lead negotiator, Juan Carlos Monterrey Gómez, told Reuters, "All of this is turning into a tragic spectacle, a clown show, because when we get to the last minute, we always get a text that is just so weak." The summit, involving nearly 200 countries, aims to establish a global climate finance framework to help developing nations transition to low-carbon economies and address the impacts of extreme weather. (With inputs from agencies)

Stuck on 'X': COP29 fails to set climate finance goal as summit enters final hours

The president of Azerbaijan, the country hosting the COP29 climate talks, on Tuesday (Nov 12) repeated that oil, gas and other natural resources are a "gift of God."

"Quote me that I said that this is a gift of God, and I want to repeat it today here at this audience,"&nbsp;Ilham Aliyev told delegates at the climate conference in Baku.

"Oil, gas, wind, sun, gold, silver, copper, all are natural resources and countries should not be blamed for having them and should not be blamed for bringing these resources to the market because the market needs them," he further added.&nbsp;

Criticising the "Western fake news" about his country's emissions,&nbsp; Aliyev said nations "should not be blamed" for having fossil fuel reserves.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-is-mike-huckabee-donald-trumps-pick-for-us-ambassador-to-israel-775719">Who is Mike Huckabee? Donald Trump's pick for US ambassador to Israel</a>

UN chief António Guterres, just after Aliyev's statement, told the conference that doubling down on the use of fossil fuels was "absurd".

This year has been “a masterclass in human destruction”, the UN secretary general&nbsp;said as he reflected on extreme weather and record temperatures around the world fuelled by climate breakdown.&nbsp;

<h2>'It Was Not Our Idea'&nbsp;</h2>

Azerbaijan has seven billion barrels of proven oil reserves and was one of the first places in the world to start commercial oil production.

Since gaining independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, Azerbaijan has produced 1.05 billion tonnes of oil and is set to increase its natural gas production by more than a third in the next decade.

Revenues from oil and gas production make up about 35 per cent of the country's GDP and nearly half of the state budget.

About 75 per cent of Azerbaijan's energy exports go to European markets.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/third-attack-on-israel-would-cripple-irans-economy-netanyahu-775714">Third attack on Israel would cripple Iran's economy: Netanyahu</a>

In 2022, the European Commission&nbsp;keen to reduce its&nbsp;dependence on Russian gas,&nbsp;signed a deal with Baku to double gas imports from the country, which was defended by&nbsp;Aliyev during his speech.

"It was not our idea," he said.

"They asked us to help, and we said okay, we will help Europe with energy security."

(With inputs from agencies)

The president of Azerbaijan, the country hosting the COP29 climate talks, on Tuesday (Nov 12) repeated that oil, gas and other natural resources are a "gift of God.

The president of Azerbaijan, the country hosting the COP29 climate talks, on Tuesday (Nov 12) repeated that oil, gas and other natural resources are a "gift of God." "Quote me that I said that this is a gift of God, and I want to repeat it today here at this audience," Ilham Aliyev told delegates at the climate conference in Baku. "Oil, gas, wind, sun, gold, silver, copper, all are natural resources and countries should not be blamed for having them and should not be blamed for bringing these resources to the market because the market needs them," he further added. Criticising the "Western fake news" about his country's emissions, Aliyev said nations "should not be blamed" for having fossil fuel reserves. Also read | Who is Mike Huckabee? Donald Trump's pick for US ambassador to Israel UN chief António Guterres, just after Aliyev's statement, told the conference that doubling down on the use of fossil fuels was "absurd". This year has been “a masterclass in human destruction”, the UN secretary general said as he reflected on extreme weather and record temperatures around the world fuelled by climate breakdown. 'It Was Not Our Idea' Azerbaijan has seven billion barrels of proven oil reserves and was one of the first places in the world to start commercial oil production. Since gaining independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, Azerbaijan has produced 1.05 billion tonnes of oil and is set to increase its natural gas production by more than a third in the next decade. Revenues from oil and gas production make up about 35 per cent of the country's GDP and nearly half of the state budget. About 75 per cent of Azerbaijan's energy exports go to European markets. Also read | Third attack on Israel would cripple Iran's economy: Netanyahu In 2022, the European Commission keen to reduce its dependence on Russian gas, signed a deal with Baku to double gas imports from the country, which was defended by Aliyev during his speech. "It was not our idea," he said. "They asked us to help, and we said okay, we will help Europe with energy security." (With inputs from agencies)

Oil and gas are gift of God, says Azerbaijan president at COP29

Global leaders offered competing visions on how to tackle climate change at UN-led talks on Wednesday&nbsp;as a new report warned that the world must reach carbon neutrality much sooner than planned.

Planet-warming carbon dioxide emissions from oil, gas and coal rose to record highs this year, according to preliminary research from an international network of scientists at the Global Carbon Project.

The report came as leaders gathered in Azerbaijan for COP29 climate talks aimed at reaching a deal to boost funding for poorer nations so they can adapt to climate shocks and transition to cleaner energy.

The research found that to meet the Paris agreement's ambitious goal of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, the world now needs to reach net-zero CO2 emissions by the late 2030s –&nbsp;instead of 2050.

"This is what the presidency has been promoting since the beginning of this year -- the time window is narrowing, shrinking -- and we need to act urgently," Yalchin Rafiyev, Azerbaijan's lead negotiator for COP29, told AFP.

"There are still possibilities for keeping 1.5C within reach", and striking a deal on climate finance "will definitely pave the way for us to realise this opportunity".

The warning comes with growing concern about the future of global climate action after the election of Donald Trump, who has vowed to again pull the United States out of the Paris agreement after taking over the presidency in January.

Some leaders in Baku defended fossil fuels during two days of speeches, while others from countries plagued by climate disasters warned that they were running out of time.

Some of the strongest words came from Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, who complained that "our speeches full of good words about climate change, change nothing".

Rama skewered the many leaders who skipped this year's event, saying their absences added "insult to injury".

<h2>'Slower' path</h2>

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, meanwhile, urged a "realistic global outlook" that did not prioritise decarbonisation over "our production and social system's sustainability".

"We must protect nature, with man at its core. An approach that is too ideological and not pragmatic on this matter risks taking us off the road to success," the far-right leader said.

"Currently, there is no single alternative to fossil fuel supply."

And Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis warned that countries "cannot drive ourselves into industrial oblivion".

Those views stood in sharp contrast to the line from countries beset by climate catastrophes and rising sea levels.

Tuvalu's Prime Minister Feleti Penitala Teo insisted that for Pacific island nations like his, "there is simply no time to waste".

He urged countries to "deliver a clear signal that the world is promptly phasing out fossil fuel".

<h2>Money fight</h2>

As leaders spoke, negotiators released a fresh draft deal on finance that includes a raft of options to raise funding but leaves unresolved sticking points that have long delayed an agreement.

Most developing countries favour an annual commitment from wealthy countries of at least $1.3 trillion.

This figure is more than 10 times the $100 billion annually that a small pool of developed countries –&nbsp;among them the US, the EU and Japan –&nbsp;currently pay.

Some donors are reluctant to promise large new amounts of public money from their budgets at a time when they face economic and political pressure at home.

They want instead to promise private sector mobilisation, an option NGOs describe as "wishful thinking".

"They always like to look at the private sector as the magic money tree," said Debbie Hillier, global climate policy lead for Mercy Corps.

US climate envoy John Podesta said a deal should include "new contributors" -- code for China, which is not labelled a developed nation despite being the world's second-largest economy and largest polluter.

Already buried under debt, developing countries want new aid in the form of grants instead of loans.

Philip Davis, the prime minister of the Bahamas, which is vulnerable to hurricanes, said that small island nations have spent 18 times more on debt repayment than they have received in climate finance.

"The world has found the ability to finance wars, the ability to mobilise against pandemics," Davis said.

"Yet when it comes to addressing the most profound crisis of our time, the very survival of nations, where is that same ability?"

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Global leaders offered competing visions on how to tackle climate change at UN-led talks on Wednesday as a new report warned that the world must reach carbon neutrality much sooner than planned.

Global leaders offered competing visions on how to tackle climate change at UN-led talks on Wednesday as a new report warned that the world must reach carbon neutrality much sooner than planned. Planet-warming carbon dioxide emissions from oil, gas and coal rose to record highs this year, according to preliminary research from an international network of scientists at the Global Carbon Project. The report came as leaders gathered in Azerbaijan for COP29 climate talks aimed at reaching a deal to boost funding for poorer nations so they can adapt to climate shocks and transition to cleaner energy. The research found that to meet the Paris agreement's ambitious goal of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, the world now needs to reach net-zero CO2 emissions by the late 2030s – instead of 2050. "This is what the presidency has been promoting since the beginning of this year -- the time window is narrowing, shrinking -- and we need to act urgently," Yalchin Rafiyev, Azerbaijan's lead negotiator for COP29, told AFP. "There are still possibilities for keeping 1.5C within reach", and striking a deal on climate finance "will definitely pave the way for us to realise this opportunity". The warning comes with growing concern about the future of global climate action after the election of Donald Trump, who has vowed to again pull the United States out of the Paris agreement after taking over the presidency in January. Some leaders in Baku defended fossil fuels during two days of speeches, while others from countries plagued by climate disasters warned that they were running out of time. Some of the strongest words came from Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, who complained that "our speeches full of good words about climate change, change nothing". Rama skewered the many leaders who skipped this year's event, saying their absences added "insult to injury". 'Slower' path Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, meanwhile, urged a "realistic global outlook" that did not prioritise decarbonisation over "our production and social system's sustainability". "We must protect nature, with man at its core. An approach that is too ideological and not pragmatic on this matter risks taking us off the road to success," the far-right leader said. "Currently, there is no single alternative to fossil fuel supply." And Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis warned that countries "cannot drive ourselves into industrial oblivion". Those views stood in sharp contrast to the line from countries beset by climate catastrophes and rising sea levels. Tuvalu's Prime Minister Feleti Penitala Teo insisted that for Pacific island nations like his, "there is simply no time to waste". He urged countries to "deliver a clear signal that the world is promptly phasing out fossil fuel". Money fight As leaders spoke, negotiators released a fresh draft deal on finance that includes a raft of options to raise funding but leaves unresolved sticking points that have long delayed an agreement. Most developing countries favour an annual commitment from wealthy countries of at least $1.3 trillion. This figure is more than 10 times the $100 billion annually that a small pool of developed countries – among them the US, the EU and Japan – currently pay. Some donors are reluctant to promise large new amounts of public money from their budgets at a time when they face economic and political pressure at home. They want instead to promise private sector mobilisation, an option NGOs describe as "wishful thinking". "They always like to look at the private sector as the magic money tree," said Debbie Hillier, global climate policy lead for Mercy Corps. US climate envoy John Podesta said a deal should include "new contributors" -- code for China, which is not labelled a developed nation despite being the world's second-largest economy and largest polluter. Already buried under debt, developing countries want new aid in the form of grants instead of loans. Philip Davis, the prime minister of the Bahamas, which is vulnerable to hurricanes, said that small island nations have spent 18 times more on debt repayment than they have received in climate finance. "The world has found the ability to finance wars, the ability to mobilise against pandemics," Davis said. "Yet when it comes to addressing the most profound crisis of our time, the very survival of nations, where is that same ability?" Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

World leaders remain divided at COP29 even as fresh concerns raised over climate change

US climate envoy John Podesta said on Monday (Nov. 11) that US President-elect Donald Trump can slow the transition from fossil fuels but would not stop it when he returns to office in January.&nbsp;

While speaking at the annual UN climate summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, Podesta urged governments to keep faith in the country's promise to combat global warming.&nbsp;

Podesta further called last week's US election result “bitterly disappointing”.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistans-cities-record-highest-aqi-triggering-anxiety-and-anguish-775074">Also read:&nbsp;Pakistan's cities record highest AQI, triggering anxiety and anguish</a>

"But what I want to tell you today is that while the United States federal government, under Donald Trump, may put climate action on the back burner, but the work to contain climate change is going to continue in the United States."

He then praised Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’ decision to rejoin the Paris agreement - which Trump left the last time he was president.&nbsp;

He said that Trump's &nbsp;"relationship to climate change is captured by the word 'hoax'”.

“None of this is a hoax, it is real,” he added.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;Majority Of Israeli Public Concerned Of Climate Change: Survey

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/majority-of-israeli-public-concerned-of-climate-change-survey-775121/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Podesta suggested that Trump's incoming administration will try to make a U-turn on the government's climate commitment, but that the US is committed to its goals.

“Are we facing new headwinds, absolutely. But will we revert to the energy system of the 1950s? No way,” he said.&nbsp;

Podesta said the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), opens a new tab, President Joe Biden's landmark climate legislation providing billions of dollars in subsidies for clean energy, would continue to drive investments in solar, wind and other technologies, adding that the US state governments would also push emissions cuts through regulation.

(With inputs from agencies)

US climate envoy John Podesta said on Monday (Nov. 11) that US President-elect Donald Trump can slow the transition from fossil fuels but would not stop it when he returns to office in January.

US climate envoy John Podesta said on Monday (Nov. 11) that US President-elect Donald Trump can slow the transition from fossil fuels but would not stop it when he returns to office in January. While speaking at the annual UN climate summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, Podesta urged governments to keep faith in the country's promise to combat global warming. Podesta further called last week's US election result “bitterly disappointing”. Also read: Pakistan's cities record highest AQI, triggering anxiety and anguish "But what I want to tell you today is that while the United States federal government, under Donald Trump, may put climate action on the back burner, but the work to contain climate change is going to continue in the United States." He then praised Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’ decision to rejoin the Paris agreement - which Trump left the last time he was president. He said that Trump's "relationship to climate change is captured by the word 'hoax'”. “None of this is a hoax, it is real,” he added. Watch | Majority Of Israeli Public Concerned Of Climate Change: Survey × Podesta suggested that Trump's incoming administration will try to make a U-turn on the government's climate commitment, but that the US is committed to its goals. “Are we facing new headwinds, absolutely. But will we revert to the energy system of the 1950s? No way,” he said. Podesta said the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), opens a new tab, President Joe Biden's landmark climate legislation providing billions of dollars in subsidies for clean energy, would continue to drive investments in solar, wind and other technologies, adding that the US state governments would also push emissions cuts through regulation. (With inputs from agencies)

COP29: US climate envoy calls elections ‘bitterly disappointing’, says work will go on despite Trump’s return

The COP29 climate talks opened Monday in Azerbaijan with a call to show global cooperation was not "down for the count", as Donald Trump's re-election as US president hangs over the key discussions.

Countries come to Baku after new warnings that 2024 is on track to break temperature records, adding urgency to a fractious debate over funding for climate action in poorer countries.

Trump has pledged to once again withdraw the United States from the landmark Paris climate agreement, and there are concerns the move could weaken ambition around the negotiating table.

As the talks 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 wealthy countries who are struggling to agree on 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."

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.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-set-to-reveal-new-stealth-fighter-jet-and-attack-drones-at-zhuhai-airshow-775185">China set to reveal new stealth fighter jet and attack drones at Zhuhai airshow</a>

How much will be on offer, who will pay, and who can access the funds are some of the major points of contention.&nbsp;

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.&nbsp;

"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.

"Bring some money to the table so that you show your leadership," said Evans Njewa, chair of the LDC Climate Group, whose members are home to 1.1 billion people.

<h2>- Few G20 leaders -</h2>

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 per cent of global emissions, are attending. US President Joe Biden is staying away.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-pm-narendra-modi-makes-nine-appeals-to-uttarakhand-cm-replies-775134">Indian PM Narendra Modi makes ‘nine appeals’ to Uttarakhand, CM replies</a>

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.

Babayev warned the talks were "a moment of truth for the Paris agreement."

The climate deal commits to keep warming below 2 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels, preferably below 1.5C.

<h2>- 'Worth it' -</h2>

But the world is likely to top that level in 2024, according to the European Union climate monitor.

That 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.

"Everyone knows that these negotiations will not be easy," said Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on Sunday.

"But they are worth it: each tenth of a degree of warming avoided means fewer crises, less suffering, less displacement."&nbsp;

More than 51,000 people are expected at the talks, which run from November 11 to 22.&nbsp;

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.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

The COP29 climate talks opened Monday in Azerbaijan with a call to show global cooperation was not "down for the count", as Donald Trump's re-election as US president hangs over the key discussions.

The COP29 climate talks opened Monday in Azerbaijan with a call to show global cooperation was not "down for the count", as Donald Trump's re-election as US president hangs over the key discussions. Countries come to Baku after new warnings that 2024 is on track to break temperature records, adding urgency to a fractious debate over funding for climate action in poorer countries. Trump has pledged to once again withdraw the United States from the landmark Paris climate agreement, and there are concerns the move could weaken ambition around the negotiating table. As the talks 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 wealthy countries who are struggling to agree on 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." 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. Also Read | China set to reveal new stealth fighter jet and attack drones at Zhuhai airshow 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. "Bring some money to the table so that you show your leadership," said Evans Njewa, chair of the LDC Climate Group, whose members are home to 1.1 billion people. - 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 per cent of global emissions, are attending. US President Joe Biden is staying away. Also Read | Indian PM Narendra Modi makes ‘nine appeals’ to Uttarakhand, CM replies 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. Babayev warned the talks were "a moment of truth for the Paris agreement." The climate deal commits to keep warming below 2 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels, preferably below 1.5C. - 'Worth it' - But the world is likely to top that level in 2024, according to the European Union climate monitor. That 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. "Everyone knows that these negotiations will not be easy," said Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on Sunday. "But they are worth it: each tenth of a degree of warming avoided means fewer crises, less suffering, less displacement." 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. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

COP29 climate summit opens with call for cooperation after Trump win

Afghan Taliban officials will attend a major United Nations climate conference that starts next week, the Afghan Foreign Ministry said on Sunday, the first time since the former insurgents took power in 2021.

The COP29 climate summit in Azerbaijan's capital Baku will be among the highest-profile multilateral events attended by Taliban administration officials since they took control in Kabul after 20 years of fighting NATO-backed forces.

The UN has not allowed the Taliban to take up Afghanistan's seat at the General Assembly, and Afghanistan's government is not formally recognised by UN member states, largely due to the Taliban's restrictions on women's education and freedom of movement.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-hamas-war-rescuers-say-30-including-13-children-killed-in-strikes-in-gaza-774996">Israel-Hamas war: Rescuers say 30, including 13 children, killed in Gaza strikes</a>

Afghan Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi said officials from the National Environmental Protection Agency had arrived in Azerbaijan to attend the COP conference. The Taliban took over the agency when they returned to power as US-led forces withdrew.

Taliban officials have taken part in UN organised meetings on Afghanistan in Doha, and Taliban ministers have attended forums in China and Central Asia in the past two years.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-urges-his-supporters-to-bail-out-democrats-after-harris-campaigns-1-billion-disaster-775015">Trump urges his supporters to bail out Democrats after Harris campaign’s ‘$1 billion disaster’</a>

But the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change’s Bureau of the COP has deferred consideration of Afghanistan’s participation since 2021, in effect freezing the country out of the talks.&nbsp;

Afghan NGOs have also struggled to attend the climate negotiations in recent years.

Host Azerbaijan invited the Afghan environment agency officials to COP29 as observers, enabling them to "potentially participate in periphery discussions and potentially hold bilateral meetings," a diplomatic source familiar with the matter told Reuters.

Because the Taliban are not formally recognised within the UN system as the legitimate government of Afghanistan, the source said, the officials cannot receive credentials to take part in the proceedings of full member states.

Azerbaijan's COP29 presidency declined to comment.

The Taliban has closed schools and universities to female students over the age of around 12. It also announced a set of wide-ranging morality laws this year that require women to cover their faces in public and restrict their travel outside the home without a male guardian.&nbsp;

The Taliban says it respects women's rights in accordance with its interpretation of Islamic law.

Afghanistan is considered one of the countries worst affected by climate change. Flash floods have killed hundreds this year, and the heavily agriculture-dependent country has suffered through one of the worst droughts in decades. Many subsistence farmers, who make up much of the population, face deepening food insecurity.

Some advocates have criticised international isolation of the Taliban, saying it only hurts the Afghan people.

"Afghanistan is one of the countries that is really left behind on the needs that it has," said Habib Mayar, deputy general secretary of the g7+, an intergovernmental organisation of countries affected by conflict.

"It is a double price that they are paying," Mayar said. "There is lack of attention, lack of connection with the international community, and then there are increasing humanitarian needs."

 
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience.

Afghan Taliban officials will attend a major United Nations climate conference that starts next week, the Afghan Foreign Ministry said on Sunday, the first time since the former insurgents took power in 2021.

Afghan Taliban officials will attend a major United Nations climate conference that starts next week, the Afghan Foreign Ministry said on Sunday, the first time since the former insurgents took power in 2021. The COP29 climate summit in Azerbaijan's capital Baku will be among the highest-profile multilateral events attended by Taliban administration officials since they took control in Kabul after 20 years of fighting NATO-backed forces. The UN has not allowed the Taliban to take up Afghanistan's seat at the General Assembly, and Afghanistan's government is not formally recognised by UN member states, largely due to the Taliban's restrictions on women's education and freedom of movement. Also read | Israel-Hamas war: Rescuers say 30, including 13 children, killed in Gaza strikes Afghan Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi said officials from the National Environmental Protection Agency had arrived in Azerbaijan to attend the COP conference. The Taliban took over the agency when they returned to power as US-led forces withdrew. Taliban officials have taken part in UN organised meetings on Afghanistan in Doha, and Taliban ministers have attended forums in China and Central Asia in the past two years. Also read | Trump urges his supporters to bail out Democrats after Harris campaign’s ‘$1 billion disaster’ But the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change’s Bureau of the COP has deferred consideration of Afghanistan’s participation since 2021, in effect freezing the country out of the talks. Afghan NGOs have also struggled to attend the climate negotiations in recent years. Host Azerbaijan invited the Afghan environment agency officials to COP29 as observers, enabling them to "potentially participate in periphery discussions and potentially hold bilateral meetings," a diplomatic source familiar with the matter told Reuters. Because the Taliban are not formally recognised within the UN system as the legitimate government of Afghanistan, the source said, the officials cannot receive credentials to take part in the proceedings of full member states. Azerbaijan's COP29 presidency declined to comment. The Taliban has closed schools and universities to female students over the age of around 12. It also announced a set of wide-ranging morality laws this year that require women to cover their faces in public and restrict their travel outside the home without a male guardian. The Taliban says it respects women's rights in accordance with its interpretation of Islamic law. Afghanistan is considered one of the countries worst affected by climate change. Flash floods have killed hundreds this year, and the heavily agriculture-dependent country has suffered through one of the worst droughts in decades. Many subsistence farmers, who make up much of the population, face deepening food insecurity. Some advocates have criticised international isolation of the Taliban, saying it only hurts the Afghan people. "Afghanistan is one of the countries that is really left behind on the needs that it has," said Habib Mayar, deputy general secretary of the g7+, an intergovernmental organisation of countries affected by conflict. "It is a double price that they are paying," Mayar said. "There is lack of attention, lack of connection with the international community, and then there are increasing humanitarian needs." Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Taliban officials to attend COP29 in Azerbaijan for the first time since 2021 Afghanistan takeover

cop29-climate-summit

Cop29 Climate Summit, News on Cop29 Climate Summit, stories on Cop29 Climate Summit, articles on Cop29 Climate Summit, Cop29 Climate Summit stories at Wion, Cop29 Climate Summit news, Cop29 Climate Summit latest news

cop29 climate-summit