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Ministers told to ‘cut the theatrics’ as Cop29 stalls into its second week

MINISTERS were urged to “cut the theatrics” at Cop29, after talks stalled as the UN climate summit entered its second week today.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband joined other government ministers for talks in oil-producing Azerbaijan’s capital Baku on Sunday.

Cop29 aims to reach a new global commitment on finance for poor countries to cope with climate change impacts and green their economies.

Wealthy countries, which previously pledged $100 billion (£79bn) a year in private and public finance to help, have agreed that a new deal on climate finance should be set before 2025.

Pressure mounted on ministers yesterday to “get down to business” on a deal for one trillion US dollars (£790bn) to flow into developing countries each year by 2030, bar China, to meet the Paris Agreement goals.

WWF senior adviser on global climate policy Mark Lutes said: “Last week was a very tough week.”

He said discussions stalled as negotiators likely stuck to their given mandates amid “very difficult political issues.”

UN climate head Simon Stiell later urged the summit to “wrap up less contentious issues” as early as possible in the coming days to enable enough time for the major political decision.

He said: “We can’t lose sight of the forest because we’re tussling over individual trees. 

“We will only get the job done if parties are prepared to step forward in parallel, bringing us closer to common ground.”

Mr Stiell also called out “bluffing, brinksmanship and premediated playbooks” that burn up time and stymie the goodwill needed to get to an ambitious deal.

“Let’s cut the theatrics and get down to real business,” he said.

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