As the COP29 climate talks continue, a coalition of global leaders and scientists has called for significant reforms in the United Nations Conference of Parties (COP) process. In an open letter addressed to UN climate chief Simon Stiell and Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the group emphasized the need for eligibility criteria that would exclude nations that do not support a transition away from fossil fuels.
The summit, hosted in Azerbaijan, has drawn criticism due to the country's heavy reliance on oil and gas, which constitutes half of its economy. President Ilham Aliyev opened the conference by referring to oil and gas as a 'gift from God,' highlighting Azerbaijan's commitment to its natural resources.
The letter's signatories, including former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and former President of Ireland Mary Robinson, argued that the current COP framework is inadequate to address the urgent challenges posed by climate change. They proposed seven key reforms aimed at shifting the focus from negotiations to concrete actions.
Among the suggested reforms are enhanced tracking of climate financing and ensuring that national action plans align with the latest scientific evidence. The group also criticized the overwhelming presence of fossil fuel lobbyists at COP29, with reports indicating that 1,773 lobbyists from the fossil fuel sector have been granted access to the summit, surpassing the number of delegates from the ten most climate-vulnerable nations.
Climate Action Tracker has warned that without new national climate targets, current policies could lead to a temperature rise of 2.7 degrees Celsius by 2100. Additionally, both fossil fuel usage and land-use changes, such as deforestation, have increased compared to 2023 levels. The call for reform comes as the world grapples with the distribution of climate finance to vulnerable populations amidst record profits in the fossil fuel industry.
Experts stress that without urgent reforms and accountability measures, the global community will face further delays in effectively addressing the climate crisis.