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COP29 concluded this past weekend with a deeply flawed agreement on climate finance that plans for fossil fuel phaseout failure and has been carefully crafted by rich countries to dodge their responsibilities to pay the climate debt they owe to the Global South.

What we need to see from the Biden Administration before Trump takes office.

The first week of the UN climate negotiations just wrapped up in Azerbaijan. Our team on the ground has been working hard to push back against industry spin and pressure rich countries to pay up. Here are the highlights.

The $300 billion climate finance offer at Baku is a scam — nowhere near what's needed and not debt-free. Rich countries are planning for fossil fuel phaseout failure and dodging responsibilities by forcing developing countries and the private sector to cover the bill. This creates a debt trap for those most vulnerable to the climate crisis. If rich countries put their hoarded trillions on the table instead of making excuses, we’d see real progress on fossil fuel phase-out. The US, EU, and UK show sickening indifference while millions pay with their lives. We will not give up.

COP29 stretches over its last official day in Baku, while yesterday's draft climate finance text falls dangerously short of what science and justice demand.

“This text is an absolute embarrassment. It’s the equivalent of governments handing the keys to the firetruck to the arsonists."

Last year at COP28, governments committed to transition away from fossil fuels. The next key step to make good on this landmark energy agreement is rich countries agreeing to a new climate finance goal of at least $1 trillion annually to make this possible. This will allow countries to deliver national climate plans (NDCs) due in 2025 that phase out fossil fuels.

Big oil and gas companies’ voluntary “Decarbonization Charter,” launched at COP28, is a dangerous distraction from the urgent need to rapidly phase out fossil fuels. New data shows Charter members have approved massive oil and gas expansion plans since signing on.

There is no shortage of public money available for rich countries to pay their fair share on fair terms for climate action at home and abroad. They can mobilize over USD 5.3 trillion per year for the new climate finance target at COP29, international development needs, ensuring fair fossil fuel phase out in their NDCs, and other public goods.