Baku – Negotiations at the UN climate summit in Baku remain stalled as the event enters its second week, with hopes pinned on G20 leaders to intervene and help strike a crucial finance deal. The main sticking point continues to be the $1 trillion commitment for climate-action investments in developing nations, which remains unresolved after nearly a week of discussions.
Despite intense overnight negotiations at a sports stadium near the Caspian Sea, a new draft that emerged on Saturday showed little progress, maintaining deep divisions between the parties involved. A French diplomat, speaking anonymously, expressed frustration, saying, “We absolutely want an agreement in Baku because it is in the collective interest, but clearly we are deadlocked, and not where we should be to have an agreement.”
As the summit nears its end on November 22, government ministers arriving in Baku on Monday will face a difficult task in breaking the impasse. Samir Bejanov, deputy lead negotiator for Azerbaijan, emphasized the challenges ahead, stating, “There is still much, much to do,” and calling on negotiators to prove that a collective agreement is achievable.
While optimism was in short supply as the summit entered its second week, some attendees remained more hopeful. Irish climate minister Eamon Ryan downplayed the situation, stating, “It’s not as bad as it might look from the outside.”
G20 Summit’s Role
The upcoming G20 summit in Brazil, beginning on Monday, will be closely watched for signs of political will to revive the stalled talks. UN climate chief Simon Stiell emphasized the importance of the G20 meeting, saying, “As G20 Leaders head to Rio de Janeiro, the world is watching and expecting strong signals that climate action is core business for the world’s biggest economies.”
Developing nations, which bear the brunt of climate change but have contributed the least to global emissions, are pushing for a commitment of $1.3 trillion annually to help them adapt to climate impacts and transition to clean energy. They insist that this funding should not come in the form of loans, given their already heavy debt burdens.
However, wealthy nations, already grappling with economic difficulties and political pressures from high inflation, are reluctant to commit large sums of money. The deadlock continues over how much should be contributed, the form of financing, and who should pay. Developed nations are seeking to include China and wealthy Gulf states in the list of donors.
Tensions and Protests
Protests also marked the summit’s proceedings, with around 200 demonstrators gathering quietly inside the Baku venue, holding signs such as “You owe us!” and “Make Polluters Pay!” This reflects the growing frustration from many climate advocates who feel that the negotiations are not progressing fast enough.
In what may be a sign of progress, senior Chinese climate officials have met with counterparts from the EU, Germany, France, Denmark, and the Netherlands, though details of those discussions remain unclear.
Division Between North and South
The latest draft of the deal, spanning 25 pages, includes a multitude of options, underscoring the stark divisions between developed and developing nations. Iskander Erzini Vernoit, director of the Imal Initiative for Climate and Development, explained that “stark divisions between North and South prevent negotiators from tackling the main issues at hand.”
Further complicating matters, some countries have begun specifying how much they believe they should receive from the global fund. A bloc of least-developed nations, primarily from Africa, is requesting $220 billion, while small-island nations facing existential threats from rising sea levels are asking for $39 billion.
Global Citizen’s vice president, Friederike Roder, criticized the draft deal, describing it as a “jungle of options” that has “insufficient progress or even backtracks” on key issues. She stressed that what is needed most is “real political momentum and energy from world leaders as they convene for the G20 summit in Rio.”
With the summit set to conclude next week, the coming days will be critical in determining whether the deadlock can be broken and a meaningful agreement reached.
