Baku, Azerbaijan – Speaking today on 18 November at a press conference at COP29 in Baku, experts weighed in on the state of play at the climate talks. With five days left of the negotiations, panelists emphasized the need for the COP29 Presidency to move agenda items forward, particularly the new climate finance goal known as the NCQG, while the High Level Ministerial on Pre-2030 Ambition took place. With reasons to be hopeful – including increased signatories to the High Ambition Coalition and an array of progressive alliances in play – experts noted it is also critical that G20 leaders meeting in Brazil this week send a strong signal back to the climate negotiations that finance is a priority.
Andreas Sieber, 350.org Associate Director of Global Policy and Campaigns said:
“Over 130 countries in plenary on Saturday demanded from the COP29 presidency to find a way forward for mitigation and building on the COP28 landmark decision to transition away from fossil fuels. A key question for week two will be if the presidency is willing to listen to over 130 countries and show a path forward to deliver on the energy transition and build on the Global Stocktake. Week one saw technical negotiations on the finance goal. With ministers arriving this week we will see the big outstanding issues ironed out – how much money, what kind of money, and the structure of the goal must be decided.
Dialogue is good but action speaks louder. On Saturday in plenary, over 130 countries demanded the COP29 Presidency light the way forward for mitigation and build on the landmark decision to transition away from fossil fuels. We need to take the Global Stocktake as the basis of decisions. All eyes are on the COP29 Presidency to show us that they are ready to go beyond words, and pave a clear path forward for mitigation and a just energy transition.”
Catherine Abreu – Director, International Climate Politics Hub said:
“While there is hope we’ll see the mitigation negotiations unlocked by Ministers this week, it is unclear where last year’s historic decision to phase out fossil fuels and triple renewable capacity will land in the outcome of this COP. That is a critical question – It is imperative that countries make progress on commitments made in these spaces, we cannot afford to backtrack.
It is critical we make progress on climate finance to meet the scale of needs on mitigation and adaptation.
G20 leaders are soon meeting in Rio de Janeiro – reiterating the COP28 commitment to transition away from fossil fuels toward renewable energy needs to be a central pillar of outcomes there, along with positive signals coming from the world’s wealthiest nations. They must show they are willing to put money on the table and engage seriously about reforms to international financial architecture.”
Fadhel Kaboub, Power Shift Africa said:
“We need to reset the conversation about climate debt. The $1 trillion goal represents only a fraction of what the global south is owed for the damage climate change has caused: countries in Sub-Saharan Africa alone are owed $45 trillion in climate debt – so this talk of billions just doesn’t cut it. And it’s not just about the quantity of money, but the quality and structure of that money. If I owe you $100, I should pay you $100. We can negotiate a payment plan, but at the end of the day, I should pay you $100 without getting anything back in return. Instead, unfortunately, climate debt so far has looked like rich countries paying back the global south $3 for every $100 they owe, with conditions on how that $3 is spent, such as handing over their forests, or producing green energy for historical emitters. Where is the justice in that?”
Media contact:
Mariana Abdalla, 350.org
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