Key experts, including former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and ex-UN climate chief Christiana Figueres, say the UN’s COP climate talks are too slow and outdated to deal with the worsening climate crisis.
BBC reports that in a letter to the UN, these leaders called for urgent changes, including stricter rules for countries hosting the talks. They believe only nations truly committed to cutting fossil fuels should be allowed to host COP meetings.
This criticism comes as Azerbaijan hosts COP29, with its president, Ilham Aliyev, defending the country’s gas exports as a “gift from God.” BBC highlights that this sparked concerns because fossil fuels are a major cause of global warming.
There’s also unease over reports that an Azerbaijani official used the conference to explore fossil fuel business deals, raising questions about the country’s focus on climate solutions.
The COP process has achieved some major successes, like the 2015 Paris Agreement, where countries pledged to keep global warming below 1.5°C and triple renewable energy by 2030. However, BBC reports the letter’s authors feel that the pace of action doesn’t match the urgency of the crisis. They pointed out that global emissions rose by 1% this year when scientists say they need to drop 42% by 2030 to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.
Experts like Johan Rockström stress that the COP process still has value but must move faster into “action mode.” The letter also called for smaller, more frequent climate meetings with clearer accountability. BBC notes concerns from small island nations, which fear losing their voice if major decisions shift to groups like the G20, where smaller countries aren’t represented.
The selection of host countries is another big issue. Azerbaijan, like last year’s host, the UAE, is a major oil producer. BBC reports that at COP28 in Dubai, fossil fuel lobbyists outnumbered representatives from vulnerable communities and scientists. Figueres believes this imbalance hurts the talks’ ability to deliver fair solutions.
The experts want COP reforms to ensure the voices of the most affected, such as Indigenous communities and small nations, are prioritized.
BBC’s report underscores the growing need for climate talks to evolve and deliver faster, more meaningful results to tackle rising global temperatures effectively.
Credit : BBC
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2lknel1xpo