World leaders at the U.N. climate conference in Turkey called for urgent action on global warming, warning that its impacts fall hardest on vulnerable countries as deadly floods, heatwaves and wildfires sharpen pressure for a response.

The absence of the leaders of China, the United States and India drew criticism because those countries account for more than half of global carbon dioxide emissions; the United States was absent for a second consecutive year, and many European leaders also stayed away.

Although negotiations can proceed without heads of government, their absence signals the priority they give climate action and may leave delegates without the political mandate to break deadlocks on finance, adaptation and moving away from fossil fuels.

U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres urged negotiators to focus on ending reliance on fossil fuels, adapting to climate impacts, increasing support for poorer countries and strengthening international cooperation.

A central dispute is who should pay: developing countries argue that wealthy nations, whose historical emissions drove much of global warming, must fund adaptation and low-emissions development.

The financing gap is stark: developing countries are estimated to need about $305 billion annually for adaptation by 2035, while even tripling adaptation finance would provide only an estimated $85 billion to $120 billion a year.

In India’s opening statement, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change secretary Narendra Bhooshan cited Article 9.1 of the Paris Agreement, which obliges developed countries to provide financial resources to developing countries.

Bhooshan also reaffirmed India’s support for the U.N. climate process and the principles of equity and Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities, while calling for clean-technology barriers involving cost, intellectual property and trade to be addressed.

Türkiye and Australia are promoting a voluntary goal for electricity to supply 35 percent of global final energy consumption by 2035, with electrification across transport, buildings and industry; Australia, Ethiopia, Germany and Norway supported the goal, while the EU and UK backed electrification without formally endorsing the pledge.

Fiji welcomed the electrification goal but warned that pledges often fall short in delivery, and low-income countries stressed the need for financing, infrastructure and practical support.

The electrification proposal could reignite debate over fossil fuels, as countries have struggled to advance their 2023 agreement to transition away from coal, oil and gas, and the EU has stressed that electrification must be clean.

Micronesian President Wesley Simina described irreversible coral-reef losses that threaten coasts, fisheries and communities, calling climate change the greatest threat to Pacific peoples.