The annual United Nations climate summit has started in Baku, Azerbaijan, with countries ready for tough talks on finance and trade, following a year of weather disasters that have emboldened developing countries in their demands for more funds. 

Delegates from nearly 200 countries will participate at the two-week COP29 forum for talks.

In his opening speech, UN climate Chief Simon Stiell has urged for a new global climate finance goal.

He appealed for climate funding to world’s poorer nations.

The COP29 talks open amid new warnings that 2024 is on track to break temperature records, adding urgency to a debate over climate funding as poorer countries seek an increase in 100 billion US dollars a-year target at the forum.