historic deal they reached in November, which set the outlines of a fund that is supposed to aid communities devastated by climate disasters such as extreme storms and heat.

A senior negotiator from a European country stated, “There is not just one country at fault here. The situation is not pleasing to anyone.”

The agreement made last year during the United Nations climate negotiations in Dubai stated that representatives for the fund’s supervisory board would be nominated as soon as possible. This would enable the U.N. to hold its first meeting by January 31, 2024 at the latest.

Developing countries
have named their representatives, but richer nations have not. Instead, they are still arguing over which countries can nominate members to sit on the board, the negotiators and officials told POLITICO and POLITICO’s E&E News.

The board cannot convene until the developed countries resolve their conflicts, which could potentially postpone the disbursement of funds.

Of the funds raised thus far for loss and damage, which is the designated term used by the UN to assist victims of climate disasters, almost $450 million was contributed by the EU or its member nations.

The US received backlash in Dubai for only providing a measly $17.5 million, especially considering the size of its economy and its record as the top contributor to climate pollution.

A European official stated that the EU had requested eight seats, but may compromise and accept seven. The top contributing countries, Germany, France, and Italy, would each receive one seat.

The nations represented by the “Others” group, also known as the Umbrella Group, are willing to divide the remaining five seats among themselves. However, there is more demand for these seats than there are available. According to a high-ranking official from the State Department, the number of seats proposed by the EU would greatly restrict the options for other interested countries.

The group was unable to reach a consensus on an Eastern European host country for this year’s COP29 summit, as Russia vetoed the EU nominee, Bulgaria. As a result, the group was forced to select Azerbaijan as the host.

The statement of the negotiator was supported by a Ukrainian representative, another diplomat from Europe, and a high-ranking government official from Eastern Europe.

The Ukrainian negotiator stated that Russia is preventing all appointments within our group. Despite trying to resolve the issue in person at COP28, it remains unresolved and is holding everyone hostage. Despite reaching out for comment, the Russian foreign ministry did not respond.

Enter Ankara

Next up is Turkey.

For several years, Ankara has declined to approve the 2015 Paris climate agreement due to one crucial factor: According to the U.N.’s main climate change treaty, it is categorized as an industrialized nation, which disqualifies it from receiving financial aid designated for developing countries and requires it to make a larger contribution towards reducing its emissions that contribute to global warming.

In 2021, after officially approving the Paris Agreement, the Turkish government stated that they were ratifying it as a developing nation. This declaration was merely symbolic, as the agreement does not permit countries to impose stipulations.

According to the senior European negotiator, Turkey has proposed the idea of nominating itself for the non-aligned developing country seat, potentially competing against smaller and less affluent nations like Armenia or Moldova. This stance has also been confirmed by a State Department official.

The European negotiator cautioned that this could establish a dangerous precedent. They stated, “No one truly wants to approve the self-nomination of any country, whether it be developing or developed, for any specific purpose.”

There was no response from Turkey’s environment and foreign ministries when contacted for comment.

As the delay continues, concerns increase that disputes among developed countries regarding seats could hinder the fund’s strict timeline for becoming functional.

Last year, countries came to an agreement to merge the fund with the World Bank, at least for the time being. The international financial institution and the 26-member board are tasked with reaching a consensus on the conditions for housing the fund within the World Bank within eight months after COP28, which would be by mid-August.

In November, at the summit in Azerbaijan, governments will give their ultimate approval for the fund’s structure. Only after this approval can the fund begin providing financial aid to countries and communities facing climate-related disasters.

Liane Schalatek, the associate director at the Heinrich Böll Foundation in Washington and an observer of the fund process, stated that the board will have a very tight schedule to complete their tasks. She noted that a delay could jeopardize the entire timeline, as outlined in the decision.