**Contentious Climate Finance Talks Underway Amidst Global Economic Strains**

Amidst the ongoing international climate discussions in Baku, Azerbaijan, money has emerged as the most divisive issue. The central questions revolve around the magnitude of funds required, their sources, and intended uses. Compounding the difficulty of securing large financial commitments are the concurrent global challenges of wars, the pandemic, and inflation, which have severely depleted the reserves of wealthy nations expected to aid poorer countries in managing climate-related risks.

The recent election of Donald J. Trump as President of the United States has further complicated the situation. Trump's administration is expected to withdraw from the global climate accord, as it did during his first term, effectively ensuring that the world's richest nation will likely not contribute financially.

In the face of these setbacks, several innovative funding strategies are being circulated. These include implementing taxes, addressing national debts, and urging international development banks to expedite their efforts. While these new proposals also face significant obstacles, they are being considered as alternatives to the traditional method of seeking pledges from wealthy donor countries, which has proven insufficient.

The limitations of the conventional approach became evident with the climate finance goal set in 2009, which aimed to mobilize $100 billion annually by 2020. This target was unmet until two years later, with roughly 70 percent of the funds provided as loans. This loan-heavy approach has caused frustration among already financially burdened countries.