G20 communique in Rio contains key lines on climate confirming world set to transition away from fossil fuels

In keeping with previous Cop summits in authoritarian countries, authorities in Azerbaijan appear to have made some limited allowances for civil society interventions during the conference.

Here are some pictures of the activism taking place so far on Tuesday at Cop29.

Brazil has shown leadership during its G20 presidency and this signal could pave the way for unlocking a transformative finance deal at COP29, one that should mobilize at least a trillion dollars per year for climate action. This will be a drop in the ocean compared to what governments are already paying and people are already suffering around the world due to climate catastrophes. However, this funding must come in the form of grants and public money, not private finance. Private finance in its very nature is about making profits, before meeting genuine human needs.

While the joint declaration produced by the G20 on Monday shows some early positive signals–addressing key issues such as the ongoing wars in Gaza and Ukraine, a global alliance against hunger and poverty, and discussions on a wealth tax–it remains too broad and lacks specifics. The urgency of the climate crisis demands stronger and more immediate action.

We expect G20 leaders to take the lead on advancing NDCs and mobilising climate finance to send a strong signal to the negotiations taking place here in Baku. Without concrete actions to back these commitments, the gap between ambition and reality will continue to grow, leaving millions of people increasingly vulnerable.