India Demand for Fair Climate Finance Commitments at COP29 Summit
India, along with other developing countries at COP29 called for fair and effective climate finance agreements to support global climate action. Representing the Like-Minded Developing Countries (LMDCs), India emphasised the need for equitable financial support from developed nations, spotlighting the burden placed on vulnerable economies. Negotiators have noted that around 69% of the climate finance currently comes as loans, a structure that can impose heavy debt burdens rather than alleviating economic strain.
Push for Accountability and Consistency in Climate Funding
The New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) for climate finance remains a central focus of the summit, as discussions continue around establishing clearer financial targets and accountability measures. The LMDCs, working alongside the G77, BASIC, and the African and Arab groups, expressed concerns over developed countries’ failure to meet a $100 billion annual funding goal, which has long been contentious in international climate negotiations. Representatives have urged for a transparent and consistent approach in climate finance, ensuring that commitments are tracked and upheld in good faith.
Challenges with Existing Funding Mechanisms
Within the ongoing negotiations, India and other LMDC members voiced concerns about stringent investment requirements being proposed, as they could place smaller, less-developed nations at a disadvantage. The bloc argued that such policies may inherently benefit nations with robust financial infrastructures, potentially sidelining economies with limited investment access. LMDC negotiators have reiterated the importance of the “common but differentiated responsibilities” principle, emphasising that climate goals must consider the specific needs and capacities of all countries.
Call for Equitable Solutions
India and other LMDC countries continue to press for a collectively agreed-upon definition of climate finance, pushing for accessible and fair funding options for all developing nations. As discussions advance, the group remains committed to achieving a balanced outcome that fosters inclusivity, accountability, and transparency in international climate finance—crucial components for building global trust and cooperation in addressing climate change.
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A massive coral, thought to be the largest ever recorded, has been discovered by scientists in the Solomon Islands, drawing global attention to its size and environmental significance. The coral, which extends about 111 feet across and 104 feet in length, spans an area comparable to two basketball courts and can be seen from space. This discovery, made by a team from National Geographic’s Pristine Seas expedition in October, highlights the presence of previously unrecorded marine giants.
A Hidden Giant in the Ocean
Dr. Molly Timmers, the expedition’s lead scientist, noted that the coral appeared “like a shipwreck” from the water’s surface. Its sheer size was confirmed by underwater divers, who found the coral extending across the seafloor with undulating waves of brown, yellow, and blue hues. Estimated to be between 300 and 500 years old, the coral dwarfs the previous record-holder, a coral known as “Big Momma” in American Samoa.
Pristine Seas founder Dr. Enric Sala compared the discovery to finding “the world’s tallest tree” and emphasized its importance in marine biodiversity research. Dr. David M. Baker, a coral reef researcher at the University of Hong Kong, who was not part of the expedition, highlighted that large coral structures represent resilience, having endured significant environmental changes over centuries.
A Vital Marine Habitat at Risk
Though the coral appears healthy, scientists have expressed concern about the threats it faces from both local and global stressors. Overfishing disrupts coral reef ecosystems by removing key species that support its health, while climate change poses a longer-term threat. Coral reefs are highly susceptible to warming oceans, which can lead to coral bleaching and ultimately coral death, Timmers noted.
With more than 490 species of hard and soft corals, the Solomon Islands host one of the world’s richest coral ecosystems. The discovery of this coral serves as a reminder of both the ocean’s hidden wonders and the urgent need for conservation amidst rising global temperatures.
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Research led by the University of Tartu has revealed a potential link between industrial air pollution and localised snowfall. Observations using both satellite and ground-based radar indicate that industrial facilities across North America, Europe, and Asia may trigger local snowfall by causing ice to form in supercooled clouds. This phenomenon, observed near factories such as copper smelters and coal power plants, results from the release of aerosol particles that interact with clouds in specific atmospheric conditions. Dr V. Toll, an associate professor at the University of Tartu, highlighted the importance of cross-disciplinary research in identifying this process.
Aerosols and Snow Formation
Industries, especially those involved in cement production, metallurgy, and fossil fuel combustion, emit aerosols—tiny solid and liquid particles that significantly affect cloud properties. Aerosols have been shown to increase the number of cloud droplets, thereby brightening clouds and reducing solar radiation reaching the Earth’s surface. However, the new findings suggest that, in certain conditions, these particles also trigger the freezing of liquid cloud droplets, resulting in snowfall downwind from industrial sites. Weather radar images taken near industrial locations in Canada and Russia show unique plumes of snowfall, a discovery corroborated by satellite data indicating concurrent reductions in cloud cover.
Supercooling in Cloud Droplets
Cloud droplets can remain in liquid form at temperatures as low as -40 degrees Celsius in a process known as supercooling. Only when suitable particles, such as anthropogenic aerosols, are present can these droplets freeze at temperatures between zero and -40 degrees Celsius. Toll’s team suggests that aerosol emissions, combined with heat and water vapour from industrial facilities, are likely inducing ice formation within clouds, resulting in snowfall. While this phenomenon has been observed at specific sites, it is uncertain whether similar mechanisms affect cloud formation on larger scales.
Further Research Required
The study, published in Science, underscores the need for further investigation into the role of different aerosol types in ice nucleation processes. Future research will aim to understand whether these localised snowfall events have broader atmospheric impacts and to identify the types of aerosol emissions most effective in initiating ice formation in supercooled clouds.
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