The United Nations Climate Change Conference, known as COP29, took place in Azerbaijan with the goal of reaching a deal on climate finance as extreme weather becomes more common. Developing countries are seeking $1 trillion a year by the end of the decade to transition to green energy and adapt to climate change. However, a draft deal that would provide $250 billion annually by 2035 from wealthy countries to poorer ones fell short of expectations. Many world leaders, including President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping, were absent from the conference. The presence of heads of state at the conference is seen as symbolic and their absence was disappointing to many. Despite the absence of top leaders, U.S. officials reassured attendees that climate action will continue, even with former President Trump potentially diminishing efforts. The conference was also marked by the presence of Taliban leaders from Afghanistan, a country vulnerable to climate change due to decades of war and instability. The fight over who should pay for climate mitigation efforts has created tension, with some smaller nations feeling neglected. The climate finance framework is being heavily criticized, with calls for a new approach to address the urgent climate crisis. The ongoing debate over funding and responsibility for climate action underscores the deepening divides between developed and developing nations at COP29.
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