After wealthy countries refused to agree to a $1 trillion proposal from developing countries facing the brunt of climate change’s impacts, the COP29 U.N. climate summit concluded with a $300 billion climate finance deal that is “a drop in the ocean compared to what is needed.” For more, we hear from two climate activists who attended the conference and were among those calling for wealthier countries to contribute more to a global green energy transition. Brandon Wu, the director of policy and campaigns at ActionAid USA, says the U.S. in particular owes “a climate debt to the rest of the world,” yet has spent years performing a “great escape from [its] obligations” by avoiding and reneging on promises to commit its vast financial resources to fighting the climate crisis. We’re then joined by Asad Rehman of War on Want and the Climate Justice Coalition, who further discusses the deal’s shortcomings and what to expect from next year’s conference in Brazil.
This content originally appeared on Democracy Now! and was authored by Democracy Now!.