Pacific advocates criticize COP29 for failing to support vulnerable island nations

Pacific climate advocates criticized the COP29 summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, for failing to address the needs of the Pacific Islands. They claimed that rich nations did not meet their financial obligations, leaving vulnerable countries without adequate support. The summit set a new climate finance goal of $300 billion annually by 2035, but this amount fell short of the $1 trillion requested by developing nations. Advocates described the outcome as a "betrayal" and noted that the funding relied heavily on loans, increasing debt for these nations. Key issues like fossil fuel phase-out and loss and damage were not adequately addressed, according to advocacy groups. They expressed concern that the summit's decisions weakened commitments and ignored the urgent needs of vulnerable communities facing climate change impacts.