Climate finance talks at COP29 set to enter 'hardest' stage

Climate negotiators were warned on Nov 20 that the "hardest part" was about to start in talks over how much money should be provided to developing countries to help them adapt to climate-fuelled weather disasters and transition to cleaner energy.

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Figuring out what form that funding takes, who pays and how much is central to the COP29 talks. With a notional Nov 22 deadline looming, frustration over the lack of progress so far was starting to seep out of the negotiating rooms.

The chief negotiator of the COP29 summit's host Azerbaijan said "now the hardest part begins", ahead of fresh negotiating text that was due to drop at midnight in the capital Baku.

Progress at the annual summit is typically marked through regular draft documents that get whittled down to a final deal.

Australian Environment Minister Chris Bowen, tasked by the COP presidency with gathering the range of views in the negotiating rooms, said he had heard three proposals for the annual figure to be given by richer governments.