With climate change becoming increasingly difficult to ignore, nations around the globe are facing pressures to act decisively. The United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP29, set to take place in Baku, Azerbaijan, has once again spotlighted the urgent need for action, particularly from developed countries. These nations are being called to account for their promises to reduce fossil fuel use, particularly as extreme weather events become more frequent and severe worldwide.
Over the past year, several urgent climate conditions have underscored the global crisis. Rare torrential rains inundated the arid Sahara desert, establishing temporary lakes and changing the desert's complexion dramatically. Earlier, the UAE faced unprecedented rainfall, the heaviest since records began, bringing much of the nation to a halt. Meanwhile, Kenya and Tanzania dealt with devastating floods, resulting in over 400 fatalities. Such incidents are not isolated but part of a concerning pattern linked to climate change.
Alarmingly, experts warn the world is at risk of exceeding the temperature increases set out by the Paris Agreement. The treaty aimed to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels, but without significant changes, projections indicate catastrophic rises. Since his election, Donald Trump has pledged to remove the United States from international climate agreements, raising fear among climate scientists as his policies threaten to usher the U.S. back to fossil fuel dependency.
Dr. Michael E. Mann, the director of the Center for Science, Sustainability, and the Media at the University of Pennsylvania, described the potential outcomes as dire. Mann stated, "A second Trump term, which includes implementation of ‘Project 2025’, is the end of climate action as we know it this decade." The repercussions are especially chilling considering the U.S. has historically been the world’s largest economy and greenhouse gas emitter.
During Trump’s first term, he withdrew from the Paris Agreement and rolled back over 100 environmental regulations. His approach dismissed climate change as a hoax, which, combined with proposals like “drill, baby, drill,” signals potential regression for U.S. climate leadership. If reelected, climate scientists fear he would dismantle existing regulations, making it increasingly difficult for nations to coordinate meaningful climate action.
Interestingly enough, under the Biden administration, significant efforts were made toward reducing emissions. The Inflation Reduction Act represented the largest investment ever made by the U.S. toward climate and energy. Yet, these accomplishments risk being dismantled should Trump regain the presidency.
Naomi Oreskes, author of Merchants of Doubt, highlighted how the international community might need to adjust their expectations about U.S. leadership in climate initiatives. “The rest of the world has to stop waiting for the U.S. to lead on climate. That will not happen any time in the next four years,” she said. This sentiment resonates with many developing nations who find themselves on the front lines of climate change, yet lacking the financial resources to cope or adapt.
Realistically, urgent action is needed to address these challenges. Developed countries have long promised to put significant financial aid aside for developing nations, but commitments often remain unfulfilled. For example, during the 2009 climate talks, wealthy nations pledged to deliver $100 billion annually to developing countries by 2020, yet progress has been slow. Even as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development reported positive figures reaching over $115.9 billion, the gap remains significant compared to what is necessary to combat the challenges these nations face.
The COP27 conference last year included discussions about financing climate adaptation and mitigation strategies for the least developed nations. Many nations are still struggling to deal with the fallout from previous promises.
Meanwhile, as the COP29 conference approaches, governments find themselves amid rising fossil fuel demands, exacerbated by geopolitical shifts and economic realities. The international community is racing against the clock, as renewable energy adoption struggles to keep pace with soaring electricity demand globally. Currently, the world is projected to hit its carbon budget within the next five years if emissions levels remain unchanged. This does not bode well as crises triggered by climate change continue to impact communities worldwide.
Finance is expected to be at the forefront of discussions during COP29, as countries push for action on establishing new climate finance goals. COP29 President-Designate Mukhtar Babayev expressed efforts to bridge developed and developing countries to create consensus around climate finance. He emphasized, “To meet our climate ambitions, we need reform to make finance available, affordable, and accessible.”
Conversely, Canada has seen notable advancements concerning its commitment to reduce methane emissions from its oil and gas production. Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault announced proposed regulations targeting the significant reduction of these emissions by 2030, pending the approval of finalized regulations. This commitment aligns Canada with global efforts to tackle methane emissions—an urgent issue as it can have swift climate impacts relative to other greenhouse gases.
Despite promising advances, Canada must finalize and enact these regulations to maintain momentum. A previous announcement to cap emissions from Canada’s oil and gas sector indicates the government recognizes the urgency of their climate commitments. Many commend the potential impact of methane reduction on short-term climate stabilization, acknowledging the wide support for such initiatives.
Overall, as COP29 assembles policymakers, activists, scientists, and more from around the globe, focus will shift to accountability among wealthy states for their historical emissions and their promises. Australia's climate minister had once predicted the end of the fossil fuels age, yet recent trends show richer nations pursuing fossil fuel projects, determinedly undermining their previous commitments.
The path forward will require dedicated global cooperation. Failure to act decisively risks condemning future generations and the most vulnerable populations to unprecedented consequences. It remains to be seen whether COP29 will catalyze the transformative changes needed to mitigate the impacts of climate change effectively.
Should leaders make real progress and not allow political obstacles or empty rhetoric to derail these efforts, the forthcoming climate talks could be pivotal. The need for swift, cooperative action is undeniable; the clock is ticking on our planet’s future.
