In a spirited address at the COP29 summit in Baku, former US Vice President Al Gore didn’t hold back in his criticism of the fossil fuel sector. He asserted that industry figures are “far more adept at winning over politicians than they are at tackling emissions.”
As a dedicated climate advocate, Mr. Gore called on conference attendees to prioritize actionable solutions instead of succumbing to the pressures exerted by both the political elite and corporate interests.
“We must confront the question of how long we’ll allow the fossil fuel industry to hold sway over our collective decision-making,” he urged. “If we can unite across borders and commit to making informed decisions, we have the potential to turn the tide.”
This year’s UN climate conference is grappling to maintain focus on environmental concerns amidst tricky geopolitical tensions. The backdrop includes a combative host country and the looming shadow of US climate skeptic Donald Trump’s potential return to power.
Inside the COP29 venue, climate activists staged protests demanding an end to fossil fuel dependence, highlighting the urgency of their cause.
Juan Carlos Monterrey, Panama’s Special Representative for Climate, lamented, “The UN negotiations around climate and environmental matters are increasingly resembling a tragic performance.”
As the host, oil-rich Azerbaijan aims to achieve the modest goal of harmonizing nations around an annual financial support pledge for developing countries grappling with escalating climate-related challenges.
For more insights, take a look at our: Explainer: A guide to COP29 climate jargon
Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev opened the summit with a fiery tirade against the United States and the European Union, branding them as hypocrites in the climate change arena, which soured the atmosphere for those focused on meeting financial commitments.
His remarks escalated when he accused France of historical “crimes,” prompting France’s climate minister to forgo attending the conference.
Halfway through the two-week gathering, an influential group of former leaders, climate experts, and scientists released an open letter advocating for major reforms within the COP process, emphasizing that it “is not capable of delivering the swift, large-scale changes needed to safeguard our climate future.”
Pivotal events during the summit have revealed the pressure on the multilateral climate discussions currently taking place in Baku. Yalchin Rafiyev, who is leading Azerbaijan’s negotiations, stated, “We view COP29 as a crucial test for global climate governance.”
The potential reelection of former President Trump has cast a long shadow over negotiations, leading several nations to downshift their expectations even before the conference began.
“This COP was essentially constrained from the start,” remarked Jon Creyts, president of RMI, a think tank focused on energy transition.
Trump has vowed to detach the US from international climate agreements, repeating his earlier assertions labeling global warming as a hoax.
In his impassioned speech, Mr. Gore downplayed the potential impact of Trump’s return on climate progress, saying, “During Trump’s previous administration, the expansion of solar, wind energy, and electric vehicles carried on regardless. Market forces, alongside the initiatives of state, city, and provincial governments, have kept the momentum alive.”
However, negotiator Michai Robertson of AOSIS pointed out that negotiations could become even more challenging if Trump opts out of the Paris Agreement again. “This time around, the geopolitical landscape is quite different. With many countries veering towards conservative policies, there’s a notable decline in cooperation within the international community,” he noted.
Just when it seemed the discussions could take a decisive turn, Argentina’s President Javier Milei—who also dismisses global warming—opted to recall his delegation from the summit to “reassess the situation,” further complicating matters.
As the COP29 summit continues, the stakes are high, and the world is watching closely. The question looms: can delegates rise above political pressures and make the necessary commitments to combat climate change effectively? Time will tell.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
