Cop 29: new draft text criticised as ‘totally unacceptable and inadequate’ – as it happened

Text ‘decides’ on $250bn for developing countries by 2035 – but faces criticism from African Group of Negotiators

Negotiations are still taking place over the draft texts, and there has been no announcement of whether we’ll have another set of drafts soon, whether the next text will be the final one, or whether it’s just all on hold till tomorrow. Some are choosing to get a bit of sleep before the potential slog over the weekend.

It felt like a busy day but what actually happened?

• Mary Robinson, the former president of Ireland and twice a UN climate envoy, said on Thursday night that rich country budgets were stretched amid inflation, Covid and conflicts including Russia’s war in Ukraine, and warned that poorer countries might have to compromise.

• The UK government pledged £239m to tackle deforestation

• In an unusual intervention, the UAE stepped in and warned that the world must stand behind a historic resolution made last year to “transition away from fossil fuels” as the Saudis tried to block the language.

• The draft text was published, but met a pretty hostile reception. It called for $1.3tn by 2035.

• Civil society called it “an absolute embarrassment”

• Few countries have spoken up so far, but their reactions have been mixed. The Australian climate change minister, Chris Bowen, has responded to the latest text from the presidency, describing it as a “genuine attempt”. But Amb Ali Mohamed, Kenya’s Special Envoy for chair of the African Group of Negotiators called it as “totally unacceptable and inadequate.”

We’re waiting for the next round of texts to emerge and will pick up the story then.

Cover photo: By The Guardian