COP29: Will more finance for climate action be put on the table ?

COP29 in Azerbaijan : Will more finance for climate action be put on the table ?

ISHA SHARMA

As COP29 arrives in Baku from November 11th – 22th, 2024, the need for more climate funding has never been more crucial.

With previous climate conferences delivering more than a trillion dollars in investment, the spotlight is now on increasing financial commitments, particularly from wealthy nations to developing countries.

UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell highlights the importance of a new, ambitious objective for global climate funding that addresses the urgent needs of vulnerable countries.

COP29: Will more finance for climate action be put on the table ?

“At COP29 in Baku, all governments must agree on a new global climate finance agenda that truly meets the needs of developing countries.” “COP29 must be the stand-and-deliver COP, recognizing that climate finance is core business to save the global economy and billions of lives and livelihoods from prevalent climate impacts,” said UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell at the Brookings Institution’s Global Economy and Development Programme Virtual Event.

The backdrop for such discussions is the ever-worsening impact of climate change, which poses significant threats to the global economy and individuals. The goal of the upcoming conference is to turn commitments made at past conferences into measurable results, highlighting the significance of the Loss and Damage Fund, which is intended to support nations most affected by climate change.

The concentration on monetary support comes as the United Nations points out the critical need for industrialized countries to meet their climate finance responsibilities, particularly in light of the $100 billion yearly target established for developing countries.

The Participants at Baku Cop29

More than 100 world leaders are expected to make an appearance at the Baku negotiations, with 61 presidents, 38 prime ministers, and 2 crown princes registered as of mid-October, confirmed by the COP29 presidency.

Why are climate funds required?

Global temperatures are currently rising approximately 1.3 degrees Celsius (2.3 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels, with 2024 on of course to be the warmest year on record. Scientists warn that combating global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) will soon be out of reach unless greater action is taken.

Key Issues to Watch at COP 29

During COP29, several discussions are expected to centre around scaling up climate finance. Here are some critical areas of focus:

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) has been a primary source of funding for developing countries’ climate change initiatives. Discussions will most likely concentrate on maintaining this fund and ensuring it is appropriately funded to satisfy the growing demands for climate adaptation and mitigation.

There is a rising acknowledgment of the need for innovative financial solutions to climate concerns. This involves looking into possibilities such as hybrid financing, which combines public and private funding to generate additional investment in sustainable developments.

The majority of developing nations struggle to access climate funds due to complicated application processes and restricted qualifying parameters. COP29 may address these limitations and make funding more accessible, ensuring that vulnerable communities benefit from available resources.

Climate change is a global concern that demands collaborative action. COP29 is expected to promote global partnership, encouraging countries to share successful approaches and collaborate on resources to tackle global climate challenges.

“While states have common but differentiated responsibilities, they should put aside disagreements, stop blaming each other, and find common ground. We cannot afford to waste time on defining who is guilty of global warming, or who caused more environmental harm,” Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev said.

In conclusion, COP29 in Azerbaijan presents a significant opportunity for the global community to uphold its climate financing responsibilities. The decisions made at this meeting will impact the future of climate action, particularly for vulnerable countries that rely on external assistance to mitigate the effects of climate change.

The question remains: will global leaders commit to better financing for climate action? Well, response depends on the global attempts to address one of the most essential crises of today.

Isha Sharma: A journalism student from Gujrat. Isha combine her passion for storytelling with a live for travel, constantly seeking to uncover new faccets of society.

Mahabahu.com is an Online Magazine with collection of premium Assamese and English articles and posts with cultural base and modern thinking. You can send your articles to editor@mahabahu.com / editor@mahabahoo.com(For Assamese article, Unicode font is necessary) Images from different sources.