Only money will make the COPs go round

As delegates from across the world gathered in Baku to “agree a new global climate finance goal” on the first day of the annual climate conference, experts and climate activists said the Global North (developed world, mostly) has a “legal and moral obligation” to compensate the developing states for the damage it has caused to the climate over the decades. On Monday, as COP29 commenced in Azerbaijan’s capital, UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell agreed it is a tough task to evolve consensus. In his opening remarks, he said: “In tough times, up against difficult tasks, I don’t go in for hopes and dreams. What inspires me is human ingenuity and determination. Our ability to get knocked down and to get up again over and over again until we accomplish our goals.”