Ed Miliband announces $300 billion climate deal at Cop29 in Azerbaijan
At the conclusion of the Cop29 conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband announced a $300 billion financial package aimed at helping developing nations address climate change. This deal is seen as a significant step, though many climate groups criticized it as insufficient. The new funding is more than three times the previous $100 billion annual commitment from 2009 but falls short of the $1.3 trillion per year that impacted nations had requested. Critics, including representatives from small island states, expressed disappointment, stating the agreement does not meet urgent needs. Negotiators faced challenges, with some countries walking out in protest over the deal's inadequacies. UN climate change executive secretary Simon Stiell acknowledged the deal's limitations but emphasized its potential to support clean energy growth and protect vulnerable populations.