The next major United Nations meeting on climate change, known as COP29, is about to get underway in Baku, Azerbaijan. These annual meetings are the key international summits as the world attempts to address the unfolding climate crisis.

The annual U.N. climate summit began on Monday with countries preparing for tough talks on finance and trade, after a year of weather disasters that have emboldened developing countries in their demands for climate cash.

Representatives of the world’s governments are gathered in Baku, Azerbaijan, to negotiate international climate policy at the Cop29 summit. Of the more than 30,000 participants, thousands will be representatives of companies or business associations – so-called “corporate lobbyists”.

BAKU, Azerbaijan (AP) — World leaders are converging Tuesday at the United Nations annual climate conference in Baku, Azerbaijan although the big names and powerful countries are noticeably absent, unlike past climate talks which had the star power of a soccer World Cup.

The annual U.N. climate summit began on Monday with some prominent leaders planning to skip the event ahead of tough talks on finance and trade, after a year of weather disasters that have emboldened developing countries' demands for cash.

World leaders speak at U.N. climate summit in Azerbaijan Watch live as world leaders address the COP29 climate summit in Azerbaijan and speak about their country's climate goals. The talks are being held in the capital Baku where the world’s first oil well was drilled.

Dozens of world leaders arrived in Azerbaijan on Tuesday (November 12) for COP29 but many big names are skipping the UN climate talks where the impact of Donald Trump's election victory is keenly felt.