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Publication / 29 October 2024

International Climate coalition at COP29: priorities for fair and ambitious climate action

This year has underscored the urgency of the escalating climate crisis, with record-breaking temperatures and devastating economic impacts becoming the norm rather than the exception. Severe weather events are no longer just environmental concerns; they pose profound human and economic threats, costing billions in damages while disrupting lives, livelihoods, ecosystems, and markets worldwide. The imperative for immediate and effective action is clearer than ever.

The 2023 KNMI climate scenarios serve as a clear warning for the Netherlands, predicting more severe weather conditions due to climate change, including heat waves and rising sea levels. They also indicate that many impacts
can still be mitigated if decisive action is taken now. With a large part of the country below sea level, it is in our national interest to address climate change head-on.

Climate action must be coupled with climate justice. As the recent AIV report highlights, communities in the Global South – those least responsible for the climate crisis – are disproportionately affected. Women and girls in all their
diversity, Indigenous Peoples, local communities, children, youth, workers, and other vulnerable groups lack the resources to adapt and recover, threatening their livelihoods and economies. As a trade-dependent country, the Netherlands is directly impacted by global disruptions, making it vital to address these injustices in UNFCCC negotiations.

Meanwhile, major fossil fuel companies – Shell, BP, TotalEnergies and Eni alongside ExxonMobil, Chevron, and ConocoPhillips – reported a staggering $31.65 billion in combined profits in the second quarter of 2024. Alarmingly,
some of these companies are now backpedaling on their green and renewable energy commitments. This underscores the urgent need for global accountability and reinforces the necessity of a just transition to ensure that
those most responsible for the climate crisis are held accountable, while those on the frontlines of the climate crisis are meaningfully involved and receive the support they need.

The ‘Internationale Klimaatcoalitie’ (International Climate Coalition) - an informal network of Dutch NGOs - presents this position paper to inform and guide the Dutch government in shaping its position ahead of COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, in November 2024. The coalition believes that it is key for the Netherlands to demonstrate its continued leadership and commitment to addressing the climate crisis. They advocate for an inclusive approach that prioritizes the needs and voices of the most affected communities, ensuring that climate policies are equitable and effective.

Both ENDS endorses the Internationale Klimaatcoalitie's position paper. Read the recommendations to the Netherlands and the European Union to guide their positions and ensure they lead to an ambitious outcome at COP29 in this position paper.

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Themes

  • Trade and investments
  • Climate justice
  • Human rights and gender

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