UN chief says COP29 deal sets 'foundation' to build on

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed concern that the climate finance deal agreed early Sunday in Azerbaijan did not go far enough, as he urged nations to view it as a "foundation" on which to build.

"I had hoped for a more ambitious outcome -- on both finance and mitigation -- to meet the great challenge we face," Guterres said in a statement, adding that he is appealing "to governments to see this agreement as a foundation -- and build on it."