COP29 let down those who need it most

SCIAF's Public Engagement Director, Dr Ben Wilson, is back from Baku dispirited but trying with all his might to remain hopeful for what is to come. 

Yet again, COP has failed our sisters and brothers living in the world's poorest places. The conference has been deemed a complete and utter shambles. The outcomes have left countries in the Global South feeling totally abandoned and frightened for what the future holds. 

It is richer countries' responsibility to take the lead on climate action. They have a moral duty to pay reparations for the climate crisis, both due to historic and current emissions. 

But, the perpetrators are not doing nearly enough. People in poorer countries continue to be killed, injured, starved, and displaced by the effects of the climate emergency. Time is running out for our planet and future generations. 

Dr Ben Wilson said:  

"Richer countries have known for years that this was crunch time on climate finance yet still came to Baku without their cheque books and without a plan. The £300bn deal reached is not what it appears.  

“The deal is vastly inadequate, full of loopholes, and takes climate co-operation to the brink, massively undermining trust and faith in the global climate action effort."

Lower-income countries implored global leaders to urgently create a financial package to support their communities currently being destroyed by the climate crisis. This money would help these countries recover from the climate-related disasters they are already enduring and justly transition towards net zero. 

However, what was eventually agreed upon during COP negotiations falls far short of what is needed. 

The Global South was clear from day one of this conference what their demand for finance was - £1.3tr annually. It took until the very last day of COP29 for a counteroffer of $250m to be reached.

Chaos at the conference ensued until a $300m deal was pushed through. No lower-income country was happy with this decision. Worse still, much of this finance will come in the form of loans which will only further exacerbate the crippling debt crisis cycle of which many poor countries are stuck. 

Dr Ben Wilson continued:  

"How can you put a price on the future of the planet, and everyone who lives in it? Achieving a big enough financial package at COP29 was vital to all climate action. And the costs of inaction are even higher. New research suggests that the costs of climate change impacts could reach $19-59 trillion in global annual damages by 2049. 

"Investing in climate action is absolutely the right thing to do: it’s right for nations to keep promises made in international agreements, it’s right in the name of justice." 

COP29 has, once again, proven the unthinkable. Global leaders of wealthy countries are ignoring the pleas of communities in desperate need and serving only their capitalist interests. The Global South - and quite soon the rest of the world - are being catapulted into unliveable weather conditions. 

Dr Ben Wilson concludes: 

“We are sleepwalking towards environmental catastrophe; it’s time to wake up.”