The Facts

• Key climate experts and leaders, including former UN chief Ban Ki-moon and climate scientist Johan Rockström, believe the annual Conferences of the Parties (COP) summits need an overhaul. They've said that these talks are "no longer fit for purpose."

• The climate-watchers have written an open letter to the UN seeking more transparency and more restrictions on fossil fuel lobbying, insisting that host nations must back phasing out fossil fuels. The letter said the summit's “current structure simply cannot deliver.”

• This follows reports that an official of the Azerbaijan government, the host of COP29 in session this week, discussed fossil fuel deals on the Baku summit's sideline. Earlier, defending the emissions by his country, Pres. Ilham Aliyev said oil and gas were a "gift of god."