Editorial
At the ongoing COP29 conference in Baku, world leaders, including Pakistan’s Shehbaz Sharif, have called for more immediate and decisive action to combat climate change, stressing the urgent need to address the worsening global climate crisis. However, President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, the host of this year’s conference, strongly countered these calls, dismissing the climate emergency as “fake news” and defending the right of fossil fuel producers to exploit their natural resources. Aliyev went as far as to describe oil as a “gift from God,” a statement that highlights the ongoing tension between economic interests tied to fossil fuel extraction and the growing global demands for a transition to cleaner energy sources. While countries may not be at fault for possessing fossil fuel resources, as pointed out by Alex Rafalowsicz of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, they are certainly accountable for the environmental damage caused by their extraction and consumption.
The conference’s proceedings have been marked by a glaring absence of leaders from the world’s largest polluting nations, particularly India and China, which together account for nearly 40% of global carbon emissions. Both nations had previously advocated for a “phasing down” of fossil fuels, rather than a complete phase-out, with China making significant strides toward renewable energy alternatives. India, however, continues to expand its fossil fuel infrastructure, including the construction of new coal-fired power plants, exacerbating concerns about the rapidly melting glaciers in the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region. The HKH glaciers, which provide vital water resources for millions of people in Central and South Asia, are melting at an accelerated rate, with a 65% increase in the rate of glacial loss over the past decade compared to the previous one. This trend is projected to continue, posing serious risks to water and food security in the region.
The primary focus of COP29 is twofold: limiting global temperature rise to below 2°C, with an aspiration of 1.5°C, and mobilizing climate finance to help poorer nations reduce emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. UN climate chief Simon Stiell made a strong case in his opening speech, urging wealthy nations to view climate finance not as charity but as an investment in global stability and self-interest. However, the level of commitment from wealthier nations remains uncertain, with the United States—historically the largest emitter of greenhouse gases—offering little hope for meaningful contributions. President-elect Donald Trump, who has previously dismissed climate change as a “hoax,” is unlikely to support any loss and damage fund for affected countries. Instead, as US climate envoy Johan Podesta acknowledged, the Trump administration plans to reverse many of the climate-friendly policies put in place by the previous administration, including tax credits for green energy and subsidies for renewable technologies. While some American states and cities may continue their environmental efforts independently, the federal government’s retreat from climate leadership undermines global efforts to tackle the crisis.
This lack of decisive leadership from the world’s richest countries, coupled with the ongoing influence of fossil fuel interests, has sparked frustration among climate advocates. Despite overwhelming scientific consensus on the urgent need for climate action, global temperature records are expected to continue rising, with 2024 projected to be one of the hottest years on record. The consequences of this warming will be felt by people around the world, particularly in developing nations that are least responsible for emissions but are suffering the most from climate-induced disasters. As COP29 continues, the stark divide between those advocating for immediate and substantial action and those prioritizing economic interests remains a central tension, one that threatens to derail efforts to mitigate the climate crisis.
