Trillions of dollars needed to fight climate change: UN

The United Nations has called for trillions of dollars in financial aid to combat climate change, urging that a larger scale of funding is necessary to keep global temperatures below the critical 1.5°C threshold. Speaking at a press conference during the second week of COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, Jeremy Lawrence, a spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, stressed the urgency of the situation, highlighting the need for substantial financial commitments to address the climate crisis.

Lawrence emphasized that those most responsible for climate change should bear the greatest financial responsibility, while those most affected should receive the resources needed to adapt and cope with the effects of climate change. He framed the issue as a matter of human rights that requires immediate attention.

However, Lawrence also voiced concerns over the lack of progress at COP29 on several key issues, including the deletion of previously agreed human rights language from discussions. The summit, which continues to bring together global leaders, focuses on strategies to address emerging climate risks, reduce carbon emissions, and increase financial support for climate adaptation in developing countries.