COP29 climate talks/ climate finance/ climate change conference/ Baku COP29, climate justice COP29/ Newslooks/ BAKU/ Azerbaijan/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The COP29 climate talks in Baku, Azerbaijan, have kicked off with a strong focus on funding climate efforts, aiming to secure hundreds of billions in commitments from wealthier nations to help developing countries transition to clean energy and address climate impacts. World leaders highlighted the urgency of financial support amidst global tensions, urging action against what they called a “road to ruin.”
COP29 Climate Talks Begin with Calls for Urgent Climate Funding Quick Looks
- Focus on climate finance: Talks aim to secure major funding to support developing nations in climate transition.
- Global backdrop: Economic and political turmoil worldwide intensifies urgency for climate cooperation.
- Emissions goal: Nations are pressured to submit stronger carbon-cutting targets by early next year.
- Activists demand justice: Protests at COP29 call for climate and social justice, linking climate change to systemic oppression.
- Pacific Island challenges: Small island nations highlight the difficulty in accessing existing climate funds.
COP29 in Azerbaijan: World Leaders Focus on Climate Finance
Deep Look
The COP29 climate conference opened in Baku, Azerbaijan, with immediate attention on financing the global fight against climate change. Delegates from around the world gathered amidst calls for a shift from rhetoric to action, with an urgent focus on securing the financial commitments necessary to support developing nations in their climate efforts. The conference comes at a time of political upheaval and economic strain worldwide, with several world leaders emphasizing the critical need for a united global response.
Financial Focus for Climate Support
The primary aim of COP29 is to establish a financial framework, potentially reaching hundreds of billions—or even trillions—of dollars, to support climate initiatives in vulnerable nations. The funds would help developing countries transition to renewable energy, prepare for climate impacts, and address losses from climate-related disasters. COP29 President Mukhtar Babayev underscored the financial stakes, calling climate funding essential and urgent. “These numbers may sound big but they are nothing compared to the cost of inaction,” Babayev said, adding that COP29 could mark a critical step forward for the Paris Agreement’s 1.5-degree Celsius target.
Climate Secretary Simon Stiell added that climate finance should not be viewed as charity but rather as an essential investment to curb future climate impacts. “An ambitious new climate finance goal is entirely in the self-interest of every nation,” Stiell said, warning that failure to meet this target could lead to devastating levels of global warming.
Political and Economic Tensions Shape Talks
COP29 is set against a backdrop of significant political upheaval and conflict. Donald Trump’s recent U.S. presidential win and the dissolution of Germany’s governing coalition have added uncertainty to climate negotiations, particularly as the U.S. remains the largest historical emitter of carbon dioxide and Germany a leading voice in climate action. Climate scientist Friederike Otto noted that the current political climate is hampering progress: “The global north needs to be cutting emissions even faster, but instead we’ve got Trump back in office and a fractured German government.”
Hopes for a diplomatic pause during the conference were dashed as wars continued in Ukraine and Gaza, amplifying the need for international unity. At the conference, climate activists, many in Palestinian keffiyehs, held banners calling for climate justice and an end to global conflict. Activist Lise Masson from Friends of the Earth International criticized wealthier nations for prioritizing military spending over climate aid, saying, “It’s the same systems of oppression that put people on the frontlines of both climate change and conflict.”
Activists Link Climate Action to Social Justice
Indigenous and grassroots activists highlighted the interconnectedness of climate change and social justice issues. Gaza-based climate advocate Mohammed Ursof called for more empowerment for Indigenous and local communities, while Jacob Johns, an organizer from the Hopi and Akimel O’odham nations, urged leaders to rethink their approach, saying, “We have to realize that we are not citizens of one nation, we are the Earth.”
Setting New Emissions Targets
This year’s COP is particularly crucial as each participating nation is required to submit updated climate targets by early next year, as per the Paris Agreement’s five-year cycle of escalating climate goals. Nations are expected to strengthen commitments to cut emissions from coal, oil, and natural gas. A recent U.N. report states that global carbon emissions must be cut by 42% by 2030 to prevent exceeding the 1.5-degree Celsius threshold.
For small island nations, however, accessing existing climate funds remains a challenge. Hilda Sakiti-Waqa from the University of the South Pacific pointed out that while funding for climate action exists, the process to access it can be prohibitive. “The Pacific really needs a lot of technical help in order to put together these applications,” she explained.
The global average temperature is currently 1.3 degrees Celsius (2.3 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels, perilously close to the agreed limit of 1.5 degrees. According to the World Meteorological Organization, abandoning this target is not an option.
The Stakes for Climate Action
Stiell closed the day’s events by stressing the need for meaningful progress at COP29. “We cannot leave Baku without a substantial outcome,” he declared. With the world facing more frequent hurricanes, droughts, and floods, he called on attendees to rise to the challenge and reaffirm the possibility of global cooperation. He urged leaders to recognize that financial commitments to climate action are ultimately investments in stability and resilience for all nations, not just those most vulnerable to climate impacts.
COP29 will continue through the next two weeks, with delegates striving to finalize a climate finance agreement that meets the demands of the moment. The goal remains clear: a robust commitment to climate action through meaningful funding and support, moving from words to transformative solutions for a world increasingly affected by climate crises.
