BAKU, Azerbaijan — Women bear the brunt of climate change. A coalition of conservative autocracies wants to stop the world from discussing it.
This year’s United Nations climate conference centers on finance, but countries gathered in Azerbaijan also hope to strike a few secondary deals, including a joint pledge to ensure climate action accounts for gender equality.
Those talks, however, are on the verge of collapse after diplomats couldn’t agree on any text this weekend, when the summit, known as COP29, reached its halfway point.
Saudi Arabia, the Vatican and Russia are leading a backlash against women’s rights at COP29, said five negotiators, granted anonymity to discuss closed-door talks. Two of the negotiators said Egypt was also among the nations blocking an agreement.
