What's happened
At the COP29 climate summit in Azerbaijan, UN Secretary-General António Guterres highlighted the severe impacts of climate change amid record temperatures and extreme weather. The summit is overshadowed by Donald Trump's re-election, raising concerns about future climate commitments and funding for developing nations.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to Fiona Harvey in The Guardian, UN Secretary-General António Guterres described 2024 as a 'masterclass in human destruction' due to climate change impacts. He emphasized the urgent need for financial commitments to support vulnerable nations. Meanwhile, Emily Beament from The Scotsman noted that Trump's election poses a significant threat to international climate cooperation, with experts warning that his policies could derail progress made under previous administrations. The Independent highlighted the uncertainty surrounding the summit, with key leaders absent and calls for the UK to take a stronger leadership role in climate action.
How we got here
The COP29 summit occurs against a backdrop of escalating climate disasters and the recent re-election of Donald Trump, a climate skeptic. World leaders are under pressure to secure funding for developing countries and enhance emissions reduction commitments.
More on these topics
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Donald John Trump is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
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The Paris Agreement is an agreement within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, dealing with greenhouse-gas-emissions mitigation, adaptation, and finance, signed in 2016.
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Sir Keir Rodney Starmer KCB QC MP is a British politician and former lawyer who has served as Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition since 2020. He has been Member of Parliament for Holborn and St Pancras since 2015.
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António Manuel de Oliveira Guterres GCC GCL is a Portuguese politician and diplomat who is serving as the ninth Secretary-General of the United Nations. Previously, he was the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees between 2005 and 2015.