COP29: From finance to agenda fights, what happened on day one of the UN climate conference?

Excerpt and photo from euronews.com

As the summit opened, the World Meteorological Organization warned that this year is on track to be the warmest on record. Temperatures between January and September were around 1.54C higher than in pre-industrial times.

COP29 President Mukhtar Babayev called these climate talks a “moment of truth” for the Paris Agreement in his opening address.

UN climate chief Simon Stiell urged nations to agree on a new global goal for climate finance in Baku.

US climate envoy John Podesta said that despite a “bitterly disappointing” election result, the US will carry on the work to contain the climate crisis with “passion and belief”.

Today’s official proceedings have been dominated by a fight over what should be on the agenda at this UN summit. Fossil fuel-dependent countries say this meeting should just be about funding but others are pushing for the move away from fossil fuels to be on the table in Baku.