The COP29 climate summit ran into overtime on Friday, after a draft deal that proposed developed nations take the lead in providing $250 billion in annual climate finance by 2035 drew criticism from all sides.

UN climate talks looked set to overrun into the weekend as a deep gulf formed between richer and poorer countries over cash to help those most vulnerable in a warming world. Wealthier nations offered to more than double to $250bn a year the cash they give developing countries annually to fight climate change.

FIERCE bargaining at the United Nation climate talks in Azerbaijan dragged into Saturday (Nov 23) after a US$250 billion a year offer from rich nations was flatly refused by developing countries hardest hit by Earth’s rapid warming.