The upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Azerbaijan is expected to be dominated by contentious discussions on climate aid. The summit, scheduled from November 11 to 22 in the capital Baku, will bring together over 50,000 attendees and focus on increasing financial support from wealthy nations to poorer countries grappling with the effects of climate change.
One of the key challenges is the debate over the current climate aid target of $100 billion annually, which is seen as insufficient by many developing nations. These countries, which are disproportionately affected by global warming, are seeking a commitment from rich nations to increase funding to at least $1 trillion annually to address both mitigation efforts and disaster recovery. However, major donors, including the US and the European Union, have not yet made specific commitments beyond 2025.
The summit takes place under the shadow of potential political changes in the US, with the possibility of Donald Trump’s return to the presidency, which could further complicate the climate agenda. During his previous term, Trump withdrew the US from the Paris Agreement, a move that set back global climate efforts.
Dubbed a “finance COP,” COP29 aims to turn financial pledges from billions to trillions, but geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainties are clouding the prospects for a clear agreement. Observers have noted a lack of climate leadership this year, despite the growing frequency of extreme weather events like fires, floods, and heatwaves across the globe.
Azerbaijan, hosting its largest-ever international event, is under scrutiny due to its human rights record. The country has faced criticism for its crackdown on dissent, with Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch highlighting recent arrests of critical voices on dubious charges. This raises concerns about civil society participation at COP29, with some critics, including independent journalist Arzu Geybulla, warning that by the time the summit begins, there may be “little civil society left” in Azerbaijan.
Despite the significance of the event, COP29 has a lower profile compared to next year’s COP30 in Brazil, which is expected to attract greater global attention.
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