The world’s biggest polluters and strongest economies — China and the United States — aren’t sending their No. 1s. Neither are India and Indonesia. That’s the world’s four most populous nations, with more than 42% of all the world’s people.

World leaders are converging Tuesday at the United Nations annual climate conference in Baku, Azerbaijan although the big names and powerful countries are noticeably absent, unlike past climate talks

But 2024's climate talks are more like the International Chess Federation world championship, lacking recognizable names but big on nerd power and strategy. The top leaders of the 13 largest carbon dioxide-polluting countries will not appear.