The United Nations Climate Change Conference 2024 (COP29) is set to take place from 11 to 22 November in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. As one of the most significant climate events on the global calendar, COP29 offers an opportunity for the international community to come together and tackle the escalating climate crisis. The summit's decisions will have far-reaching consequences, influencing the direction of global climate action and efforts to achieve sustainable development. The conference aligns closely with the UN Global Goals, particularly climate action, environmental protection, and economic equality.
Who have been the attendees?
COP29 attract between 40,000 and 50,000 delegates, including government representatives from all UN member states, as well as the State of Palestine, the Holy See, Niue, the Cook Islands, and the European Union. These entities are parties to the 1992 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and most are signatories to the 2015 Paris Agreement.
Other participants include UN representatives, diplomats, climate scientists, union leaders, policy experts, journalists, NGOs, activists, and Indigenous leaders. However, Azerbaijan's restrictive policies have raised concerns about the participation of independent journalists and human rights defenders within the host nation.
While the summit brings together a diverse group of stakeholders, the limitations on civil society participation, particularly in Azerbaijan, pose challenges. In recent years, the government has cracked down on freedoms of expression, association, and assembly. As a result, COP29 risks becoming a stage for government-organised NGOs (GONGOs) rather than a truly inclusive platform for dialogue. The impact of these restrictions on the summit's effectiveness cannot be underestimated, as the voices of activists and grassroots organisations are often crucial for advocating for climate justice and social justice.
What is the goal of cop29?
The primary aim of COP29 is for nations to agree on strategies for combating climate change, with a particular focus on limiting global warming and supporting those most affected by its impacts. This year, progress will be assessed against the 1.5°C target, which the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has identified as critical for preventing catastrophic consequences. The Paris Agreement, signed in 2015, legally obliges nations to set greenhouse gas reduction targets to ensure global temperatures remain well below a 2°C rise. However, to avoid irreversible damage to the planet, the IPCC stresses that limiting warming to 1.5°C is necessary.
Despite this, projections show that global warming could reach between 2.6°C and 3.1°C by the end of the century. This degree of warming is expected to exacerbate the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, such as heatwaves, floods, and hurricanes, leading to widespread displacement, loss of livelihoods, and increasing fatalities. Low-income countries, which contribute the least to greenhouse gas emissions, are projected to suffer the most from these impacts. For these countries, addressing climate change is not only an environmental issue but a matter of economic equality and human rights.
What's on the agenda this year?
COP29 has been dubbed the "economic COP," as the focus will be on increasing climate finance to help low-income nations transition to carbon-neutral economies and adapt to the impacts of climate change. One of the key objectives is to raise funds and establish new targets for future climate financing. Despite promises made under the Paris Agreement, current financing levels remain insufficient to meet the urgent needs of vulnerable nations.
Financial commitments are particularly important for supporting loss and damage funding. This initiative would compensate low-income countries for current and future climate impacts, helping to mitigate the suffering of those most vulnerable to climate change. However, there are concerns that these funds may be insufficient and that the financial aid provided should be in the form of grants, not loans, to avoid exacerbating existing debt crises.
Where will the money come from?
Under the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement, high-income countries, which have contributed disproportionately to climate change, are required to provide financial assistance to developing countries. This obligation is reinforced by international human rights law, which obliges nations capable of contributing to do so. However, the pace and scale of financial support have been disappointing.
At COP29, negotiators will aim to establish clear financial targets and timelines for delivering funds, focusing on making climate finance more accessible and transparent. The discussions around funding will also emphasise the importance of sustainable development practices and climate justice for all nations, ensuring that those who have historically been excluded from such support are not left behind. The funding allocated should be used for both mitigation and adaptation projects, as well as addressing loss and damage caused by climate change.
Concerns about Azerbaijan’s human rights record
Despite being the host country for COP29, Azerbaijan’s human rights record has raised concerns. The government has long restricted freedoms of expression, association, and assembly, with peaceful protests often met with violent repression. Currently, over 300 political prisoners remain in detention, and independent media faces severe censorship.
These violations of basic rights have cast a shadow over the summit, with human rights groups warning that the lack of independent civil society participation could undermine the legitimacy of the event. Furthermore, as host of COP29, Azerbaijan's treatment of political dissidents and activists has become a key issue, potentially limiting the scope for an inclusive and transparent dialogue on climate change.
Has Azerbaijan improved its rights record since hosting cop29?
Unfortunately, the situation has worsened since Azerbaijan was selected to host COP29 in December 2023. Since the announcement, the government has escalated its crackdown on opposition groups and human rights activists. This has included prosecuting journalists, climate justice activists, and other dissenting voices critical of the government’s climate policies. For example, Anar Mammadli, a prominent human rights and climate justice advocate, remains in pre-trial detention on fabricated charges. His case is emblematic of the wider trend of repression in Azerbaijan.
As COP29 approaches, the lack of improvement in Azerbaijan’s human rights situation highlights the importance of including civil society voices in the climate debate. If the rights of journalists, activists, and organisations continue to be stifled, the effectiveness of COP29’s outcomes could be significantly diminished.
What about Azerbaijan’s climate record?
Azerbaijan’s fossil fuel dependence is another contentious issue. Oil and gas account for half of Azerbaijan’s economy, with the sector contributing to the majority of the nation’s export revenue. Despite the country's commitments under the Paris Agreement, the government has announced plans to increase natural gas production, a move that directly contradicts the global call to phase out fossil fuels in favour of clean energy solutions.
Moreover, fossil fuel lobbyists from companies such as Shell and BP are expected to attend COP29, raising concerns about the influence of these powerful actors on the negotiations. In the past, such companies have lobbied to weaken climate policies and promote ineffective solutions, such as carbon offsetting schemes. As the world faces an unprecedented climate emergency, there is growing pressure to reject such solutions and focus on actionable measures that reduce global emissions and promote a sustainable future.
The importance of global collaboration
To achieve the ambitious goals set at COP29, nations must collaborate and ensure that climate action is central to all policy discussions. The international community must work together to overcome challenges, including financing climate solutions, protecting biodiversity, and ensuring climate justice for all nations, particularly those most vulnerable to climate impacts.
The discussions and agreements reached at COP29 will have far-reaching consequences for the future of our planet. By prioritising human rights, increasing climate finance, and committing to a fair transition away from fossil fuels, COP29 can contribute significantly to the achievement of global sustainability goals.
COP29 presents a critical opportunity for global leaders, organisations, and activists to unite and address the challenges of climate change. The decisions made in Baku will shape the future of our planet, influencing efforts to protect the environment, promote economic equality, and ensure social justice for all. As the summit draws near, the global society must commit to stronger, more ambitious actions to secure a sustainable, climate-resilient future.
For more information on COP29 and its objectives, visit the UNFCCC website or explore the article related from Amnesty International.
More information: https://cop29.az/en/home