COP29 struggles to focus attention on the climate crisis, amid increasing geopolitical tensions and Donal Trump’s re-election to the White House. Kicking off in Baku, Azerbaijan last week, COP29 had a central goal of aligning countries around a target for annual financial aid to support developing nations to deal with the costs of climate change.

The host country has been marred by controversy due to its status as a major fossil fuel producer, with oil and gas making up half of its exports. However, tensions reached a head on Wednesday when Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev berated the U.S and EU for their hypocrisy on climate issues. France also withdrew its top negotiator after Aliyev accused the country of colonial “crimes” and the regime of President Macron of “brutally” killing citizens during recent protests in New Caledonia.

A group of influential climate policy experts, including former UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon and former president of Ireland Mary Robinson, also wrote that COP summits are “no longer fit for purpose”. The group stated that future UN climate summits should be held in countries that show clear support for climate action and have stricter rules on fossil fuel lobbying. They also suggested that meetings be held more frequently, with a stronger voice given to developing countries.

Climate finance negotiations were challenged by these geopolitical tensions, with the U.S’ likely withdrawal from any future deal raising pressure on other methods of funding. However, towards the end of the summit, poorer countries reluctantly accepted a finance package of “at least” $300bn a year from wealthy nations after “bitter negotiations”. The talks ran 33 hours late and came within inches of collapse as nations walked out and India objected stridently.

The agreement falls well short of the $1.3 trillion developing countries were pushing for, with the African Group of Negotiators describing the final pledge as “too little, too late”.

In Irish news:

• The Times’ John FitzGerald writes that climate change has been pushed off the agenda in the election campaign despite likely becoming one of the biggest issues for the next government.
• According to a report published at COP29, Ireland achieves its best ranking on emissions, placing 29^th of the 63 countries that account for 90% of global greenhouse emissions.
• Fianna Fáil commitment to climate change was criticised, after junior transport minister James Lawless gave the opening speech at the Irish Business & General Aviation Association’s Conference, which counts a number of private jet charter companies among its members.

In other world news:

• President-elect Donald Trump has picked oil and gas industry executive Chris Wright, a staunch defender of fossil fuel use to lead the Department of Energy.
• Britain’s political consensus on climate starts to fracture as new Conservative party leader Kemi Bedenoch repeatedly criticises the Government’s net zero target.
• Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva urged leaders of G20 countries to accelerate national climate targets, specifically to reach zero climate emissions five to ten years ahead of schedule.