THE RECENTLY concluded United Nations climate change negotiations (COP29) has underscored the stark divide between the Global North and South, while small island developing states (SIDS) and least developed countries (LDCs) continue to face the brunt of climate impacts.
At the Coming Back from COP29 summit, hosted on December 17 in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, Climate Analytics Caribbean shared critical analysis of key issues, including finance, adaptation, loss and damage and just transition. Held amid the growing climate crises, the discussions revealed an urgent need for equitable climate action.
“This was by far the most difficult COP we have experienced, and it emphasised the divide between developed and developing countries,” noted Rueanna Haynes, director of Climate Analytics Caribbean, in a December 19 news release from the entity.
“The outcome yielded no substantive follow-up on last year’s energy package. COP30 must answer the question – how exactly are we going to phase out fossil fuels and methane in order to live up to our global agreement to limit warming to the 1.5 degrees Celsius increase?” she added.
On the finance divide, Climate Analytics explained that COP29 – dubbed ‘theFinance COP’ – was one of the most challenging negotiations to date, with polarising debates on climate finance dominating the discussions.
“While a US$300 billion new climate finance target, the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG), was agreed upon, the commitment falls far short of small island developing states’ call for US$1.3 trillion to adequately address mitigation, adaptation, and loss and damage, with concerns over accessibility and the quality of funds,” it explained.
“The reluctance of developed countries to redefine climate finance and set minimum allocations for vulnerable nations highlighted a persistent gap in equity,” it added.
Adaptation emerged as a cautiously positive area, “with plans to double adaptation finance by 2025 and streamline Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) indicators to fewer than 100”.
“The United Arab Emirates’ new frameworks on resilience and thematic targets also provided a roadmap for enhancing adaptation efforts. The institutionalisation of adaptation as a standing COP agenda item signals a critical step forward for SIDS and LDCs,” the release said.
At the same time, while a dedicated Loss and Damage (L&D) Fund has been operationalised, “its functionality remains limited without a resource mobilisation strategy or access mechanisms” even as SIDS have emphasised the need for a standardised approach to defining and assessing L&D, particularly for slow-onset events like sea level rise, to secure effective financing.
Meanwhile, Climate Analytics said there was a just transition stalemate with the Just Transition Work Programme (JTWP) deferred, “exposing divergent views between developed and developing countries”.
“While developed nations view it as a domestic issue, SIDS and LDCs emphasise its global dimensions and climate justice implications. The lack of agreement highlighted the critical need for inclusive approaches that prioritise reskilling and equity,” added the entity, which was formed in 2008 to help achieve a climate-safe, sustainable future for all through cutting-edge science analysis and support to accelerate climate action to limit warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius.
