COP29: devastating outcomes, but our partners are a beacon of hope
By
Daan Robben and
Marius Troost
What to think of the outcomes of this year’s Conference of the Parties (COP29) of the UNFCCC? As it has been so many times, we look back with mixed feelings. On the one hand, the negotiations had very devastating outcomes. On the other hand, working so close together with our many partners and feeling their commitment and energy, also gives a spark of hope.
What to think of the outcomes of this year’s Conference of the Parties (COP29) of the UNFCCC? As it has been so many times, we look back with mixed feelings. On the one hand, the negotiations had very devastating outcomes. On the other hand, working so close together with our many partners and feeling their commitment and energy, also gives a spark of hope.
COP29 clearly did not deliver on its promises: the so-called Finance COP somehow came to an agreement in the ‘extra time’ of the conference on a new finance goal for after 2035 (300 billion per year, which in itself is wildly inadequate) and a recognition that much more is needed (and especially to groups most in need, such as women, Indigenous Peoples and local communities), but without any concrete path towards this and most importantly no real action plan until that time. We simply cannot afford this type of political games and it is hard to underestimate the consequences of this agreement. On gender and fossil fuel phase out there has been no progress, one could either say regress. Also, the absence of many world leaders in this conference degraded this conference to definitely not one of the most memorable. Other members of the Dutch International Climate Coalition, such as ActionAid NL and Simavi, have done well analysing the COP in more detail.
So why do we still have mixed feelings about being in Baku?
Putting attention to the role of Trade in Climate
The topic of trade & climate was more prominent at COP than ever. At Both ENDS, we believe these two topics are inextricably linked and this is now increasingly being recognised by policy makers as well. COP29 started with a fierce discussion over trade-related measures such as the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the European Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). Likely these will play a major role at COP30 in Brazil too. In our side event together with FARN, Latindadd, INESC, SEATINI and Dialogue Earth, we dived deeper into the topic of climate and trade. . We discussed what trade policies foster, or prevent a just energy transition and the risk of a new era of extractivism.
Amplyfying gender-just and indigenous climate solutions
Both ENDS and partners, as part of the GAGGA Alliance, have been able to highlight the role of (indigenous) women as key actors on real local climate action. We did this during an event at the UK Pavillion with amongst others Fondo CASA (Brazil) and Climate Watch Thailand in the first week and we organized a side event on real life local solutions to adapt to climate change with Both ENDS partner PRC Nepal and IIN Kenya. In our event, we showcased how women-led local climate action – or gender-just climate solutions - exist and are succesful, by highlighting the stories of grassroots women and indigenous leaders,with positive recognition of the governments of Ireland, Netherlands and Canada, who directly interacted with our speakers: Pragya Sherchan (PRC Nepal), Sara Mux (Tik Na’oj Guatemala) and Susan Chilala (Women Environs Zambia). Locally-led, gender-just climate adaptation is not only fair but essential for sustainable development. With mechanisms like GAGGA, the tools and models for impactful change already exist. What is needed now is collective commitment – across governments, institutions, and communities – to scale these solutions and ensure that funding reaches those who need it most. The event came at a moment negotiators started to talk about funding, and it was a great reminder that funding per se is not enough: it needs to flow to the right initiatives on the ground.
Connecting people for change
When walking around at the COP site, you can easily forget why we are actually hosting these events for about three decades now. This system merely exist to fight the worst effects of climate change to the most affected countries - and more specifically most affected peoples. Both ENDS remains committed to support their partner network to have a voice and space at these kind of events, simply because it is their rightful place and their issues tend to be forgotten when they are not around. By supporting over 12 Both ENDS partners at COP, organising meetings, exchanges, speaking engagements and really connecting our partners to this space and new networks, Marius and Daan have been able to live up to our motto: connecting people for change.
Real change is possible
As moderator Florencia Ortuzar (AIDA, Latin America) concluded in GAGGA’s side-event: "Even when the broader landscape seems grim, these grounded solutions inspire hope and demonstrate that real change is possible."
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