BAKU - Countries at the COP29 climate summit were warned on Wednesday (Nov 20) that the "hardest part" was about to start in talks over how much money should be provided to developing countries to help them cope with climate change.

Figuring out what form that funding takes, who pays and how much is the main task of this year's annual UN climate talks. With a notional Friday deadline looming, frustration over the lack of progress was starting to seep out of the negotiating rooms.

Yalchin Rafiyev, the chief negotiator of the summit's host Azerbaijan said "now the hardest part begins" ahead of a fresh text which is due to drop at midnight (0400 SGT) in the capital Baku.

Progress at the annual summit is typically marked through regular draft documents that get whittled down to a final deal.

Wealthy and developing countries are sharply divided over the size of the new goal. It will replace a 2020 pledge by developed countries - delivered two years late - to provide $100 billion (S$134.2 billion) per year in climate finance.

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