Pacific nations await climate billions, as fossil fuel divide looms over Cop31

Ahead of next month’s United Nations Cop31 climate summit, as a strengthening El Niño drives Pacific sea temperatures towards record levels, more than $5 billion promised to the region remains unpaid. Cop31 co-hosts Turkey and Australia are pushing to speed up the switch to electric transport, heating and industry, but participating countries are divided over how to wind down the use of coal, oil and gas.