The key voices that will shape COP29 outcome

Nearly 200 countries will gather next week for the UN climate summit, COP29.

- Reuters

Reaching a consensus for a deal among so many can be difficult.

Here are some of the major players and negotiating blocs involved in the COP29 summit starting November 11 in Baku, Azerbaijan.

China China produces the most energy from climate-warming fossil fuels and also from renewable energy sources. It accounts for about 30% of the world's annual carbon emissions, making China the biggest greenhouse gas polluter.

However, the country's emissions may have peaked following recent expansions in renewable energy, according to the Helsinki-based Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air.

Although the world's second largest economy after the United States, China retains the developing country designation in U.N. climate negotiations that began in the 1990s.

As such, it says the United States and other industrialized countries should move first and fastest with climate action. Beijing also rejects calls for it to contribute to climate finance for developing countries.

China will send to COP29 a new diplomat for climate change as Liu Zhenmin, a former vice foreign minister has replaced long-time climate envoy Xie Zhenhua who retired.

The United States The world's second largest emitter, and largest historic emitter, comes to COP29 following an election that will put Donald Trump back in power in 2025.

U.S. negotiators from the outgoing Biden Administration, led by White House senior adviser John Podesta, will represent the country at COP29.

But Trump's victory has reduced the chance of a strong deal on a new global finance target, or an agreement to increase the pool of countries that should contribute.