'Smash 'em up derby' for final hours of climate talks

Climate talks aren't expected to commit the funds developing countries need to fight climate change. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)

Negotiators are expected to disappoint those calling for trillions of dollars in climate finance for developing countries to switch to clean energy and save their communities from extreme weather.

Aid advocates say there is a chasm between what people on the front-lines of climate change need - including some of Australia's closest neighbours - and what rich countries are willing to pay.

Australia has chipped in $50 million as it fortifies its bid to co-host international climate talks two years from now with Pacific neighbours.

Top emitter China has been asked to pay its climate bill, and the United States is in the final months of mobilising resources with President-elect Donald Trump readying to quit the Paris Agreement on curbing global warming.

A landmark pledge agreed to a year ago to transition away from fossil fuels is also being whittled away in the final drafts.

Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen, who represented Australia in the final week of the COP29 summit, said countries needed to aspire to higher emission reduction targets, but was yet to reveal a 2035 target for the nation.

"We're in the smash 'em up derby stage of the COP," Carbon Market Institute chief executive John Connor said, with climate talks deadlocked in Baku, Azerbaijan.

"It's going to be tough to land something that's acceptable to everyone around the big goal of financing commitments longer term."

But international cooperation through carbon markets has made "pretty good progress," he said.

Fiji launched a National Carbon Market Strategy Roadmap at an event attended by Australia's Climate Ambassador Kristin Tilley at the Moana Blue Pacific Pavilion in Baku.

fiji climte change
Fiji is a country already being impacted by rising sea levels.

The road map was developed by Fiji's Climate Change Division with funding support from Australia and technical assistance provided by the institute, to encourage investment in energy, transport and natural ecosystems.

It defines national priorities and principles to align with achieving net zero emissions by 2050 and taps into efforts to enable so-called small island developing states to use carbon markets to support their development goals.

Critics have said pushing through an agreement on carbon markets during week one left fundamental and technical issues unresolved. 

"But it may be that international cooperation under Article 6 is the biggest victor out of this, which is a tad ironic when we now have the looming Trumpian shadow over the Paris Agreement," Mr Connor said.

Article 6 of the Paris Agreement allows countries to transfer carbon credits to meet climate targets.

License this article

What is AAPNews?

For the first time, Australian Associated Press is delivering news straight to the consumer.

No ads. No spin. News straight-up.

Not only do you get to enjoy high-quality news delivered straight to your desktop or device, you do so in the knowledge you are supporting media diversity in Australia.

AAP Is Australia’s only independent newswire service, free from political and commercial influence, producing fact-based public interest journalism across a range of topics including politics, courts, sport, finance and entertainment.

What is AAPNews?
The Morning Wire

Wake up to AAPNews’ morning news bulletin delivered straight to your inbox or mobile device, bringing you up to speed with all that has happened overnight at home and abroad, as well as setting you up what the day has in store.

AAPNews Morning Wire
AAPNews Breaking News
Breaking News

Be the first to know when major breaking news happens.


Notifications will be sent to your device whenever a big story breaks, ensuring you are never in the dark when the talking points happen.

Focused Content

Enjoy the best of AAP’s specialised Topics in Focus. AAP has reporters dedicated to bringing you hard news and feature content across a range of specialised topics including Environment, Agriculture, Future Economies, Arts and Refugee Issues.

AAPNews Focussed Content
Subscription Plans

Choose the plan that best fits your needs. AAPNews offers two basic subscriptions, all billed monthly.

Once you sign up, you will have seven days to test out the service before being billed.

AAPNews Full Access Plan
Full Access
AU$10
  • Enjoy all that AAPNews has to offer
  • Access to breaking news notifications and bulletins
  • Includes access to all AAPNews’ specialised topics
Join Now
AAPNews Student Access Plan
Student Access
AU$5
  • Gain access via a verified student email account
  • Enjoy all the benefits of the ‘Full Access’ plan at a reduced rate
  • Subscription renews each month
Join Now
AAPNews Annual Access Plan
Annual Access
AU$99
  • All the benefits of the 'Full Access' subscription at a discounted rate
  • Subscription automatically renews after 12 months
Join Now

AAPNews also offers enterprise deals for businesses so you can provide an AAPNews account for your team, organisation or customers. Click here to contact AAP to sign-up your business today.

SEVEN DAYS FREE
Download the app
Download AAPNews on the App StoreDownload AAPNews on the Google Play Store