The 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29), held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 11 to 22 November 2024, faced significant challenges but achieved some important results. Climate Finance Agreement After intense negotiations, Western countries have pledged to provide $300 billion a year by 2035 to support developing nations in the fight against climate change. While this figure is less than the $500 billion requested by many developing countries, it represents an increase over previous pledges. However, the agreement has been criticized for lacking specifics on how the funds will be raised and who will contribute, leaving those decisions to future discussions. Tensions and Abandonments The negotiations were marked by tensions, with some developing countries walking out of the sessions in protest at not being adequately consulted. In particular, small island states and African nations expressed frustration at the lack of transparency in the decision-making process. Geopolitical Influence The re-election of Donald Trump in the United States has added complexity to the discussions, given his skeptical stance on climate change. This development has underlined the importance of cooperation between the European Union and China to advance global climate policies. Next Steps COP30 will be held in Belém, Brazil, in 2025, coinciding with the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement. This conference will be crucial to setting new emissions reduction targets and addressing persistent challenges in climate finance. In summary, COP29 made progress on climate finance, but tensions and ambiguities over future commitments mean there is still much work to be done to effectively address the global climate crisis. But above all, there was very little talk about this COP, too little when we need a sense of urgency and momentum to promote change. #COP29 #SustainableLiving
