Small Island States and Least-Developed Countries Accuse Wealthy Nations of Ignoring Climate Finance Needs
Negotiations at the United Nations climate summit (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, descended into chaos over the weekend as delegates from small island nations and the world’s least-developed countries staged a walkout. Their departure came after what they described as a failure by wealthier nations to address the urgent climate finance needs of developing countries.
Tensions Escalate as Rich and Poor Nations Clash Over Funding
The walkout occurred as negotiators from both rich and poor nations were locked in marathon talks trying to broker a deal on climate finance. Tensions reached a boiling point on Saturday when developing countries accused wealthier nations of attempting to minimize their financial contributions for climate action, including funds for adaptation and mitigation in vulnerable nations.
As negotiations ran into overtime, climate activists heckled U.S. climate envoy John Podesta, accusing the United States of not paying its fair share and of contributing significantly to climate change through its historical carbon emissions. The dispute highlighted the ongoing friction between wealthy nations, which have greater resources, and developing countries, which are already bearing the brunt of climate-induced disasters like floods, droughts, and extreme heat.
Small Island Nations Voice Frustration Over Lack of Support
Small island states, some of the most vulnerable to climate change, expressed their frustration over being sidelined during the talks. Delegates from these nations accused the host country, Azerbaijan, of ignoring their needs and concerns throughout the summit.
Panama’s chief negotiator, Juan Carlos Monterrey Gomez, decried the “war of attrition” tactics employed by wealthier nations. He lamented how developing countries, often with smaller delegations, were being worn down by prolonged negotiations. “Every minute that passes, we are going to just keep getting weaker and weaker,” Gomez said. “This is what they always do. They push it until our negotiators leave, until we’re tired, until we’re delusional from not eating, from not sleeping.”
Finance Deal Falls Short of Developing Countries’ Expectations
The latest draft agreement, released on Friday, committed to providing $250 billion annually for climate action by 2035—more than double the previous goal of $100 billion set at COP15 in 2009. However, this amount falls drastically short of the $1 trillion that experts say is needed each year to adequately address climate change impacts and transition to a sustainable global economy.
Developing countries, particularly those in the Global South, are seeking a total of $1.3 trillion annually to address the mounting costs of climate-induced disasters, including adapting to rising seas, extreme weather events, and transitioning away from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources.
The Struggle for Fair Climate Financing
Under the Paris Agreement, wealthy nations pledged to support developing countries with climate finance to help them mitigate and adapt to climate change impacts. However, developing countries argue that these promises have not been fully fulfilled, with climate finance often falling short of the needed amounts or being tied to unfavorable terms.
Nazanine Moshiri, Senior Climate Analyst at the International Crisis Group, noted that wealthier countries are constrained by their own economic challenges, including budget pressures from ongoing conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan. “This is at odds with what developing countries are grappling with: the mounting costs of storms, floods, and droughts, which are being fueled by climate change,” she told Al Jazeera.
Call for Stronger Action from Rich Countries
Teresa Anderson, Global Lead for Climate Justice at ActionAid, emphasized that a fair and binding deal would require wealthier nations, particularly the U.S., to demonstrate a greater commitment to funding climate action. “The U.S. in particular, and rich countries, need to do far more to show that they’re willing for real money to come forward,” Anderson said. “If they don’t, then Least Developed Countries (LDCs) are unlikely to find that there’s anything here for them.”
Despite the setbacks, some negotiators remained hopeful that an agreement could still be reached. Nabeel Munir of Pakistan, who chairs one of the standing negotiating committees at the summit, said, “We remain optimistic.”
The Stakes for Global Climate Action
Panama’s Juan Carlos Monterrey Gomez stressed that failure to secure a deal at COP29 could have devastating consequences not just for the climate negotiations, but for the planet as a whole. “If we don’t get a deal, I think it will be a fatal wound to this process, to the planet, to people,” he said.
As the clock runs down, the outcome of the talks remains uncertain, with small island states and developing nations continuing to demand meaningful financial commitments from wealthy countries to address the climate crisis.
