Meta launches smart glasses with built-in display, reaching for 'superintelligence'
Meta Platforms on Wednesday launched its first consumer-ready smart glasses with a built-in display, seeking to extend the momentum of its Ray-Ban lin...
As the COP29 climate summit intensifies in Baku, discussions on the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) have taken centre stage. While progress is being made behind closed doors, the negotiations remain complex, with some disagreements shaping the dialogue.
Diverging Views on Climate Finance Targets
At the heart of the NCQG debate lies a significant divide between developed and developing nations. Developing countries are pushing for an ambitious target of $1.3 trillion to address climate adaptation and mitigation. However, other proposals on the table suggest lower figures, ranging from $900 billion to $440 billion. Developed nations have emphasised the importance of a unified goal, warning against fragmenting the NCQG into multiple objectives.
Structure of Climate Finance: A Key Sticking Point
Another critical issue is the structure of the proposed climate finance. Developing nations insist on grants or concessional loans, arguing that these terms are essential to effectively support countries most vulnerable to climate change. Developed countries have yet to align on this demand, further stalling progress.
Ministerial Drafts and Timelines
Yalçın Rəfiyev, Lead Negotiator for COP29 Azerbaijan, announced that ministerial pairs have completed draft proposals, which are expected to be shared with all parties by midnight tonight. These drafts represent a step forward in the negotiations, offering a framework for potential consensus.
The timeline is tight, with only a few days left before the summit concludes. Delegates hope that these proposals will form the foundation of a final agreement that aligns with the Paris Agreement's long-term goals.
Optimism Amid Challenges
There are positive signals from the European bloc. Acknowledging challenges to the COP process under a potential Trump administration, Europe appears keen to facilitate a decision on the NCQG now, leveraging the current window of opportunity.
Diplomatic sources suggest a growing sense of optimism among negotiators. Many recognise that if the NCQG is not finalised now, it could face delays until at least 2028. This understanding has added urgency to the discussions, with both developed and developing nations working to bridge their differences.
What's Next?
The outcome of COP29 remains uncertain, but the stakes are undeniably high. With a few days left, all eyes are on the negotiations to determine whether this summit will mark a turning point in global climate action or another missed opportunity.
AnewZ has learned that India has once again blocked Azerbaijan’s application for full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, while Pakistan’s recent decision to consider diplomatic relations with Armenia has been coordinated with Baku as part of Azerbaijan’s peace agenda.
A day of mourning has been declared in Portugal to pay respect to victims who lost their lives in the Lisbon Funicular crash which happened on Wednesday evening.
A Polish Air Force pilot was killed on Thursday when an F-16 fighter jet crashed during a training flight ahead of the 2025 Radom International Air Show.
At least eight people have died and more than 90 others were injured following a catastrophic gas tanker explosion on a major highway in Mexico City’s Iztapalapa district on Wednesday, authorities confirmed.
Rising temperatures are taking a mounting toll on Bangladesh, with heat-related illnesses and productivity losses costing the economy up to $1.78 billion - about 0.4% of GDP - in 2024, according to a World Bank report released Tuesday
Australia will suffer more frequent and extreme climate events, often happening simultaneously, which will strain industry, services and infrastructure, a government report said on Monday, ahead of the announcement of a new emissions target.
Scientists have detected DNA from an invasive barnacle species in Canada's Arctic, raising alarm over the loss of the region's natural defence against ecological threats.
A decision on the European Union’s proposed 2040 climate emissions target has been delayed, with ministers now set to discuss it at an October summit instead of next week, EU officials said.
A high-level EU summit on Friday reaffirmed Europe’s commitment to electric cars, with the Commission holding firm on CO2 targets through 2035 despite industry calls for flexibility.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment