The eyes of the world are directed towards Baku in Azerbaijan, where the bran of the UNfood summit COP29 currently underway. Criticism has been directed at the choice of world country, a significant producer of oil and gas. The meeting is marked in addition by the absence of several leaders.
The UN's annual climate meeting COP29 is currently underway in Baku, Azerbaijan, November 11-22. There, representatives from the countries who have signed the climate convention and will negotiate how the climate work will be carried out.
This year's meeting (Conference of Parties, COP) is the 29th climate conference since 1995, and a focus of the meeting is climate finance. It is about richer countries contributing sdied for adjustment and adaptation to the poorer countries affected worst of the consequences of climate change.
The climate summit takes place in different parts of the world every year. This year, the Eastern European group was to host the meeting, which required an agreement within the group on which country should host.
There were several potential candidates for the summit including Bulgaria, Slovenia and Moldova. Russia blocked the countries that condemned the invasion of Ukraine, and thus Putin succeeded secure Azerbaijan as host country, type climate reporter Max Bearak i New York Times.
That summit held in Azerbaijan has been criticized because the country is a great oil- and gas producer. Now the country that plans for continued extraction of fossil fuels lead the negotiations on how to stop climate change. Something that should require a phase-out of fossil fuels.
The result of the US presidential election is also predicted to influence the summit. Trump plans to leave the Paris Agreement, the global framework to stop climate change, again after Joe Biden rejoined the US in the agreement after Trump's last term. This may affect the American delegation's room for action.
Despite the fact that upwards of 200 countries and a number of organizations and companies will participate and monitor the meeting, there are several countries and leaders who have chosen to abstain. Argentina chose to leave the meeting only after a couple of days an invitation from the country's president Javier Milei.
Papua New Guinea has sent only a small delegation due to frustration that previous climate meetings have not led to any concrete help for the peoples who are most vulnerable. The country's foreign minister, Justin Tkatchenko, described the meeting as "a total waste of time" according to The Guardian.
Environmental advocate in Papua New Guinea are concerned about the consequences of the decision. In an interview with The Guardian they emphasize the importance of attending events like COP29 to advocate for stronger climate action and negotiate resources.
Several world leaders among others, US President Joe Biden, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio da Silva and French President Emmanuel Macron will also not attend the summit. The European Commission is represented by President of the European Council Charles Michel, but the person with the mandate to make decisions commissionPresident Ursula von der Leyen, has chosen to refrain from participating.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson He has also chosen to do not travel to Azerbaijan, on the grounds that he choose to prioritize other commitments, e.gd other a party leader's debate on the EU in the Riksdag. The Swedish delegation is led instead by Climate and Environment Minister Romina Pourmokhtari (L).
Expectations for the conference are high according to Karin Lexen, secretary general at the Nature Conservation Association.
- We want to see sharp decisions. The parties must agree on which countries will pay for the consequences of the climate crisis and how the money will be distributed. It is important that the climate financing is in the form of real aid, not just loans, she is quoted in the association's statement press release.
Will the absence of influential leaders and the criticism of the host country affect the legitimacy and results of the conference? Whether, despite these obstacles, COP29 can live up to the expectations and deliver the concrete measures required to deal with the global climate crisis remains to be seen.
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