ISTANBUL / BAKU — As high-level bilateral and multilateral summits kicked off Tuesday at the 31st UN Climate Change Conference (COP31), developing nations and regional blocs sharply criticized wealthy nations, demanding strict adherence to historical climate responsibilities and substantial financial commitments.

Frustration boiled over as vulnerable nations argued that decades of delayed global action have pushed the planet dangerously close to breaching the critical 1.5°C warming threshold.

LDC Group Demands Accelerated Adaptation Funds

The Least Developed Countries (LDC) bloc—representing 44 nations across Africa, the Asia-Pacific, and the Caribbean—took a firm stance, calling for annual climate adaptation funding to be scaled up to at least $120 billion well ahead of the 2035 target. The coalition also urged fresh capital injections into the Loss and Damage Fund.

“Decades of inadequate responses have brought us to the brink of exceeding pre-industrial temperature levels by 1.5 degrees. This is a profound betrayal of the nations least responsible for this crisis,” said Adão Soares Barbosa, Timor-Leste's climate envoy and chair of the LDC group.

Efforts by the African Group of Negotiators (AGN) to formally mandate a threefold increase in adaptation finance as a distinct COP31 agenda item stalled after failing to build a consensus among all participating parties.

G77 and China Target Wealthy Nations' Broken Promises

The G77 and China bloc echoed these frustrations, rebuking developed economies for failing to meet their financial obligations under the Paris Agreement. Speaking on behalf of the coalition, a Uruguayan delegate stressed that developing economies continue to shoulder the financial burden of climate-induced disasters largely on their own. The bloc reiterated the core principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities," arguing that wealthy nations must honor their funding pledges in proportion to their historical emissions.

Brazil Pushes for Binding Fossil Fuel Roadmap

Meanwhile, Brazil—which held the COP30 presidency last year—pressed the summit to adopt concrete roadmaps away from fossil fuels. Although a similar transition plan fell short of inclusion in last year’s final text, Brasília is pushing to embed actionable transition steps into this year’s outcomes.

Brazil's proposed blueprint features sweeping fossil fuel subsidy reforms, rapid clean-energy scaling, and moratoriums on new fossil fuel power plants. UN Secretary-General António Guterres backed the push, declaring that treating the fossil fuel phase-out as a taboo must end immediately. Despite the momentum, COP31 host Turkey and negotiation lead Australia have yet to clarify how Brazil’s framework will be integrated into official negotiations.

Mountainous Nations Demand Specialized Focus

Nepal, still reeling from catastrophic flooding last August, led a call for targeted adaptation strategies tailored to high-altitude and mountainous terrain.

“After the catastrophe, we received endless sympathy and condolences. Now is the time to turn that sympathy into systemic change and promises into action,” said Nepalese Foreign Minister Sisir Khanal.

Nepal, alongside Bhutan and Kyrgyzstan, formally requested a dedicated negotiation track for mountain ecosystems—arguing that shrinking Himalayan glaciers and fragile high-altitude weather patterns directly threaten downstream populations globally. While the request was omitted as an independent formal agenda item, the COP31 presidency agreed to keep mountain climate risks central through ongoing consultations.

Conference organizers confirmed that the first draft of the official COP31 negotiation text will be unveiled next week following stakeholder feedback rounds.

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