"Our citizens are faced with unprecedented climate shocks, we need more resources to prepare to respond in time, in order to save lives and livelihoods and to help people and communities rebuild after disaster. We cannot focus so much on 2050 that we forget 2024."

World leaders will gather for about two weeks in the former Soviet republic of Azerbaijan starting Monday, with the goal of figuring out how much wealthy countries should pay to help developing nations facing the devastating effects of climate change.

Dozens of leaders are set to give speeches at the UN's Climate Change Conference in Azerbaijan on Tuesday, setting the tone for the two-week negotiations. Among others, UN Secretary General António Guterres is expected to speak.