Key experts, including a former UN Secretary-General and former UN climate chief, have declared that the United Nations’ COP climate talks are “no longer fit for purpose” and urgently need reform. In a letter to the UN, they asserted that countries unwilling to support the phase-out of fossil fuels should not host the talks.
This warning comes after the Azerbaijani president referred to natural gas as a “gift from God” during COP29, suggesting that he should not be criticized for bringing it to market. This statement followed reports indicating that a senior Azerbaijani official may have used COP29 as a platform to discuss potential fossil fuel deals.
Although the UN climate talks have made significant strides in recent years, the experts believe the slow-moving process is inadequate for addressing the fast-evolving climate crisis. The Paris climate agreement of 2015 established a framework to limit global temperature rises to below 1.5°C and aims to transition away from fossil fuels while significantly increasing renewable energy by 2030.
Signatories of the letter, including former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, former UN climate chief Christiana Figueres, and former Irish president Mary Robinson, expressed that the current structure of the COP negotiations cannot meet the urgency required for effective change. “The current structure simply cannot deliver the change at the scale and speed essential for ensuring a safe climate future,” they stated.
The letter highlights growing concerns over host countries’ commitment to addressing climate change. A recent secret recording revealed Azerbaijan’s COP29 chief discussing investment opportunities in state oil and gas, raising skepticism about the country’s dedication to climate goals. President Ilham Aliyev defended Azerbaijan’s energy exports, asserting that resource-rich nations should not be blamed for their natural resources or their market demand.
The use of oil and gas significantly contributes to global warming through carbon dioxide emissions during combustion. Aliyev also criticized France for colonialist practices and human rights violations, a rare move for a COP host leader aiming for consensus on climate challenges.
The authors of the letter criticized the selection process for COP hosts, with Azerbaijan following another major oil producer, the United Arab Emirates. They pointed out that at the last COP, fossil fuel lobbyists outnumbered representatives from scientific institutions, Indigenous communities, and vulnerable nations.
“We cannot achieve a just transition without significant reforms to the COP process that ensure fair representation for those most affected,” Figueres stated.
The experts are calling for host countries to showcase high levels of ambition in supporting the Paris agreement’s goals and for more frequent, smaller COPs with clearer accountability for commitments made by nations.
Credit: BBC News
