Climate talks to open in shadow of Trump victory

Global leaders are preparing to gather in Baku, Azerbaijan from November 11 to 22, 2024, for a significant annual event known as COP29. This meeting is crucial as it focuses on the pressing issue of climate change, which has been causing severe weather events, such as the recent floods in Spain. One of the main goals of this year's conference is to find ways to provide financial support to poorer nations, enabling them to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the increasing impacts of climate change. However, the recent election of Donald Trump, a well-known climate skeptic, has created distractions, leading to the absence of several key leaders. Azerbaijan, the host nation, is also facing scrutiny regarding its human rights practices and allegations that it may be using the conference to secure fossil fuel agreements. COP29 is recognized as the most important global meeting on climate change, organized by the United Nations. This year marks the 29th gathering, taking place in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, a country situated between Russia and Iran. The acronym COP stands for 'Conference of the Parties', referring to the countries that have ratified the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) treaty, which was signed by nearly 200 nations in 1992. The COP serves as the decision-making body for this agreement, where representatives from these countries convene annually to negotiate effective strategies for addressing the root causes of climate change. Typically, presidents and prime ministers attend these conferences to demonstrate their commitment. However, this year, several leaders from major economies and significant carbon emitters will be notably absent. Leaders such as US President Joe Biden, China's Xi Jinping, and France's Emmanuel Macron will not be present, along with other prominent figures like European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Germany's Olaf Schulz, and India's Narendra Modi. Their absence, due to various reasons, may hinder the conference's ability to achieve meaningful outcomes. The leaders who do attend will also be preoccupied with other pressing issues, including ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, as well as global economic challenges. Professor Thomas Hale from Oxford University notes, 'No world leader is arriving with climate change at the number one spot in their inbox. ' There is a prevailing sentiment that Azerbaijan may lack the diplomatic and financial influence necessary to secure a significant agreement during this conference, leading many leaders to believe that more progress may be made at next year's COP30 in Brazil.