COP29 has the opportunity to raise ambition, scale up plans for bold transformational action, and work towards a more resilient future, unlocking up to $26 trillion in economic benefits by 2030.
The Conference of Parties, to be held in Azerbaijan, should address longstanding questions about whether these well-intentioned efforts have met their objectives, particularly in terms of climate adaptation investments that protect lives and livelihoods.
At COP29, it will be crucial to champion natural adaptation strategies essential for long-term prosperity, enhanced resilience, better health, and strengthened economic outcomes. Growing concerns about the Conference’s relevance and impact on environmental progress have surfaced, and the event’s ultimate focus must be on how it serves humanity. After all, what is the purpose of a Conference laden with promises if it does not deliver tangible results for vulnerable countries facing the existential threat of climate change?
In recent years, COP’s approach has often seemed misaligned with the urgency of the issues at hand. COP29 must be more relevant than ever, as the world shifts away from fossil fuels and dirty energy towards renewables.
For instance, the Paris Agreement, which strongly advocated adherence to the 1.5°C target, remains a comprehensive, impactful guideline. In response to the escalating climate crisis, COP29 should establish a meaningful global partnership that includes alliances such as the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), an intergovernmental organization comprising 39 low-lying coastal and island countries. Though COP’s core mission is to restore the climate-impacted environment in line with the Paris Agreement, its founding priority of limiting global warming must remain central. While COP’s global reach is vast, it would still benefit from a thoughtful reevaluation of its objectives.
Countries in the Global South and members of AOSIS want COP29 to increase interventions and opportunities for vulnerable nations, with developed countries cooperating to establish a web of interlinked climate agreements.
COP29 must urge larger economies to prioritize increasing the Loss and Damage Fund. It is imperative that the destruction caused by extreme weather in Africa, for instance, gains the attention it deserves from industrialized countries.
Supporting the Global South and AOSIS in their efforts to address global warming is essential, which is why Africa must maintain a significant presence and voice at COP. As COP29’s caucuses begin, every demand for action must be taken as a clarion call. We need to amplify the urgency surrounding loss and damage funding.
Only by doing so can COP decisively affirm its importance and address doubts about climate change’s impact and the future of COP itself. In COP29, the time must come for vulnerable countries to have their voices heard and their needs met. With climate challenges accelerating, limits must be set, and action must be taken.
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