Opening COP 29

Translated by Andrea Solazzo

The COP (Conference of the Parties) is held annually, with the presidency rotating among five UN member states. This year, Azerbaijan was chosen to chair COP 29, which is being held in Baku, starting on 11 November.

Opening of the Conference (11-13 November)

One of the main dilemmas discussed during the conference is the US decision, taken after Trump's victory, to withdraw from the Paris climate accords, declaring its opposition to them. Azerbaijani President Mukhtar Babayev opened the proceedings with a controversial speech, arguing that ‘oil is a gift from God’ and that ‘all natural resources - oil, gas, wind energy, solar energy, gold, silver, copper - are natural resources and countries should not be blamed for having them and making them available to the markets, because the markets need them’. Meanwhile, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) declared that 2024 could be one of the hottest years on record, with the average surface temperature from January to September exceeding pre-industrial levels by 1.54 degrees. Sultan Al-Jaber, president of the previous COP, opened the conference by stating that countries' actions must be directed towards concrete action, unity and producing results. He also recalled the global commitment of UN member countries to phase out fossil fuels. However, it should be noted that both the UAE and Azerbaijan are among the largest producers of fossil fuels, a sector that contributes significantly to global warming. Indeed, many NGOs have criticised the decision to hold the COP in a country that promotes the oil industry and where environmental activists have been arrested.

Participation

This year, attendance at the conference was lower than in previous years, with only 51,000 participants. Europe has promised to step up its efforts to compensate for the US withdrawal, but few European leaders are present in Baku. Not only Emmanuel Macron and Olaf Scholz will attend, but also Brazilian President Lula, Colombian President Gustavo Petro and the Dutch Prime Minister.

The poorest countries are the most vulnerable

Ugandan Adonia Ayebare warned that the next two weeks of negotiations will be particularly difficult, particularly about the funds that rich countries will have to make available to support poorer nations in dealing with climate risks. ‘The record-breaking rains and floods, rapidly intensifying tropical cyclones, deadly heat, prolonged droughts and devastating fires we have seen this year in different parts of the world are unfortunately our new reality and a glimpse of our future,’ said Celeste Saulo, WMO secretary general.

Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary General, said that climate catastrophe is endangering global health, increasing social inequalities, damaging sustainable development and undermining international peace. The most vulnerable are also the most at risk: climate shocks pose an increasing threat to people already forced to flee war, violence and persecution (according to a UNHCR report). More than three quarters of the more than 120 million refugees live in countries already severely affected by climate change, and more than half reside in countries in conflict, such as Ethiopia, Haiti, Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan and Syria. Experts predict that by 2040 the number of countries facing extreme climate-related risks will increase from 3 to 65.

The US position

US Special Envoy John Podesta stated that the country will continue to fight climate change, despite Trump's re-election and his intention to withdraw the US from the Paris Agreement. Although Trump may reduce the focus on climate change, Podesta stated that the US will continue its efforts with ‘dedication and determination’, stressing that this is ‘not the end of our fight for a cleaner country’.

Conclusions

Climate change could have a devastating impact on the economy, greatly inflating inflation. It is crucial that all countries work together and take bolder and more effective action to combat global warming. The problem, however, is that many rich countries, which have not yet been devastatingly affected by climate change, are unwilling to reduce their income and temporarily increase spending to promote clean energy. Since fossil fuel energy is cheaper and more easily accessible, this resistance could lead to a point of no return if action is not taken immediately.

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