The COP29 climate summit in Baku experienced moments of chaos this Saturday during the extension of negotiations. Delegations from island states and least developed countries have abandoned the negotiating table due to the lack of attention paid to their demands, according to their spokespersons.
Following the widespread rejection of the draft agreement, particularly on the issue of climate financing for disadvantaged countries, tension rose to the brink of breakdown when the delegations of island countries (such as the Marshall Islands) and those of the group of States less developed countries (including many Africans, but also from Afghanistan, Nepal, Hatí or Cambodia), stood up and left the negotiations. To reach an agreement, a quorum of two-thirds of the 198 participating states, or around 130 parties, is required.
The presidency’s proposal to agree on a common text marked the direct contribution of rich states to poor countries to the tune of 250 billion euros per year. Many developing countries called this a “joke.” So this Saturday a kind of negotiation to see how far either would give in before giving the green light.
Far from moving forward, Saturday’s day deteriorated when these two groups decided to put even more pressure by leaving the room. That didn’t mean everything blew up, but conversations were paralyzed until they could get back to the table.
And to complete this chaotic picture, a delegate from Saudi Arabia was hunting editing one of the documents presented by the COP presidency for the final agreement, as revealed Tutor. The Saudi delegation was described as a “wrecking ball” at the summit. Its official spokesperson, in plenary session, clearly indicated that the Petrostate would not tolerate any text which “singles out a specific sector such as that of fossil fuels”, namely oil, coal and gas whose intensive use has generated a concentration of greenhouse gases. effect responsible for climate change.
