COP29: What you need to know about the climate summit – EN

While we are shocked by the passage of the devastating DANA, which has caused hundreds of deaths and terrible physical damage, the world is suffering the worst impacts of climate change, moving ever closer to the global warming limits set in the Paris Agreement. Limiting global warming to 1.5°C.

In this context, the upcoming climate summit, where world leaders meet from Monday, November 11 to Friday, November 22, 2024 in Baku, Azerbaijan (another country with an interest in fossil fuels), is of particular importance. The leaders gathered there must respond boldly to another year of record temperatures and rising emissions, forcing the fossil industry, which is largely responsible for the climate crisis, to abandon gas, coal and oil and compensate for the damage caused. Will be forced to.

What is COP29?

The United Nations Climate Change Conference, known as “COP” (short for Conference of the Parties), has been held in a different city every year since 1995. Ministers and heads of state from around the world participate along with representatives of NGOs. Companies, religious groups, scientists and other interested groups, such as indigenous peoples and local communities. Greenpeace will be present with a group that includes policy and scientific experts, as well as activists, to observe the talks and ensure that the public listens to those negotiating the agreements.

Although the ultimate goal is global cooperation to combat climate change, each COP focuses on different topics, with the host country setting the tone and direction. COP29 is a “COP on finance”, where agreement must be reached to secure a new climate finance target, known as the New Quantified Collective Goal (NCQG).

COP28, the most recent climate COP, was held in Dubai last year, bringing together more than 100,000 delegates and more than 150 heads of state. After two weeks of difficult negotiations, the final agreement recognized the need to move away from fossil fuels. However, there is still much work to be done to truly end the era of coal, oil and gas.

Why is COP29 important?

Last year, the planet faced the worsening impacts of climate change, from hurricanes to heat waves, drought, fires and floods. Extreme weather events are devastating communities, homes and costing lives; Global action has never been more urgent.

Adding to the urgency, the first global review – a report on climate progress presented at COP28 – concluded that global greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced by 43% by 2030 and 60% by 2035 to ensure we are on the path to a warmer climate. Can come.

Recent UN Environment Program reports on the emissions gap and International Energy Agency data also highlight that we are falling far short of efforts to achieve the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Have gone. It is clear that we need real and determined action at COP29.

At COP29, Greenpeace calls for:

1. A new climate finance target, the NCQG, which significantly increases public financing for countries in the Global South and incorporates the “polluter pays” principle.
2. Implementation of the COP28 agreement to phase out fossil fuels, outlining how the next national climate plans for 2030 and 2035 should include fossil fuel phase-out plans, programs and policies in line with the 1.5°C target .
3. Ensure that carbon offsets and market policies protect and restore carbon-intensive ecosystems, and are not harmful to ecosystems and local people.

In the coming years, trillions of euros will be needed worldwide to finance the fight against climate change. Important decisions will be taken at COP29 to address the rising costs of not acting quickly on climate,

Who else should pay?

Those most responsible for causing the climate crisis began with the fossil fuel industry. Now the time has come for them to pay the price for the damage and destruction they have caused.

Much work remains to be done as the climate crisis deepens, but the people power, which has grown stronger every year and makes its presence essential, will return to COP29 with more strength, more determination and more voice.