COP29: Hope for climate perseveres despite political disruptions

COPs, past and present, have demonstrated that despite the complexities of the journey, the collective determination to act remains steadfast

It all started with Papua New Guinea. Just days before COP29 was to begin, the country’s foreign minister called the annual summit a “total waste of time” and cited “empty promises and inaction” as reasons for the country pulling out of COP29 negotiations. Donald Trump’s return to the White House, Azerbaijan President’s speech defending fossil fuel use and Argentina’s walk out on Day 3 of the climate summit has raised even more questions about the effectiveness of the climate COP. 

But it is important to note that these political disruptions, which threaten to harm the sanctity of the meet, do not have the power to derail climate progress completely. As CarbonCopy had reported earlier in the US, Trump’s win is unlikely to impact global climate action because it is fuelled by economic realities and the urgent need for climate solutions. During negotiations at COP29, other countries have stepped up and shown climate leadership. The UK, for example, submitted its updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to the UN. The country has committed to an ambitious 81% emissions reduction from 1990 levels by 2035. This aside, the figure of “at least $1.3 trillion” has made it to the draft climate finance text, and is up for negotiation. This is a figure mooted by the G77 + China, which represents the Global South. 

On the second day of COP29, Sweden pledged nearly $19 million, bringing the fund’s total to over $720 million. The needle finally also moved on Article 6.4, related to global carbon market mechanisms, as it was also approved early on in the summit. “There’s more work to do, but this is a good start – the product of over 10 years of work within the process,” said Simon Steill, UN Climate Change Executive Secretary. 

This apart, COP also sees enthusiastic participation from civil society organisations along with the private sector every year, all driven to exchange ideas and sustainable solutions. COPs, present and past, have shown that while the journey is complex, the collective will to act remains unyielding. As US climate adviser John Podesta said, “We’re here at COP29 to continue to work together with our global partners and other parties. The COP is a critical opportunity to cement our progress and keep 1.5 degrees alive, to accelerate progress on reducing all greenhouse gases, and perhaps most notably, to strengthen global cooperation on adaptation and climate finance.” And if not here, then where?

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Anushka Mohite

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