The 29th edition of Conference of the Parties (COP29) which is also known as the United Nations Climate Change Conference is now underway in Baku, Azerbaijan. This year’s conference has been dubbed the “Climate Finance COP” due to the anticipated focus on climate finance and investment in climate action to reduce emissions.
All eyes will be on the progress made to fully implement the Loss and Damage Fund to support Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and vulnerable nations. Additionally, the seriousness of member nations about phasing out fossil fuels, increasing the use of renewable energy and enhancing transparency in targeted efforts to fight climate change will be under scrutiny. In considering COP29, it is instructive to take a look at last year’s event and the road that lies ahead.
The COP28 Show
COP28 in 2023 was a harsh reminder that the discourse on climate change is complicated by the realities of a world that remains predominantly reliant on fossil fuels. From the controversy surrounding the choice of the COP28 President and his “no science” fossil fuel comment to the landmark agreement on a Loss and Damage Fund to the role of lobbyists at the conference, the collapse of carbon market negotiations and the weakened language on a transition away from fossil fuels reached in overtime, it appears that the noble goals of 1.5⁰C and net zero remain elusive.
The language used within the final Declaration at COP28 is quite interesting. What does a transition away from fossil fuels really mean? Why was this language seen as a better alternative to the “phase out” or “phase down” of fossil fuels which was the text that pushed the COP28 discussions into overtime? The answer is simple: the language was watered down as a compromise and signified the lack of true commitment by all participating nations to the fight against climate change.
Leadership on Climate Change
Prime Minister Davis has made climate change his and his administration’s top priority despite the more pressing issues impacting the Bahamian people on a daily basis. Davis’ faux pas in response to a study conducted by the University of The Bahamas and the struggles of the masses amidst a cost of living crisis may be the most defining moment of his administration.
It is preposterous that the PM sees himself as a global leader in the fight against climate change but was notably absent at the high-stakes discussion in the final hours of COP28. The self-professed Captain Climate was missing in action at a pivotal time when leadership was needed, and his perceived influential voice would have been welcomed in the crafting of the final draft of the Declaration. The UK Minister of Energy Security and Net Zero faced such criticism and was accused of a “dereliction of leadership” after leaving COP28 for another engagement at the height of the impasse on an acceptable language for the phase-out of fossil fuels. What did Davis achieve at COP28 other than being a spectator and giving grandiose speeches? How loud or impactful was the voice of our PM at COP28?
Controversy plagues COP29 in 2024
Just like the 2023 version of the conference, COP29 has been mired in controversy, from the selection of the jurisdiction and its government’s record on human rights to the country’s major dependence on fossil fuel exports, albeit Azerbaijan has committed to a 35% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
The most damning revelation came in an exposé by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) which brought to light a secret recording of a senior official at COP29 using his role and position to discuss investment opportunities in the state oil and gas company with a man posing as a potential investor. The COP29 chief executive was effectively filmed promoting fossil fuel deals at the upcoming climate change conference.
Hypocrisy on Climate Change
The dichotomy of the climate change evangelism facilitated by vessels that depend on fossil fuels which emit greenhouse gases and deplete the ozone layer is too glaring. Perhaps, this should not be shocking to observers seeing that PM Davis said he supported “environmentally friendly” oil drilling as Opposition Leader.
Bahamians have come to accept that our PM has not seen an airplane that he doesn’t fancy a trip on. As expected, Davis and his entourage have made their way to COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, aboard airplanes powered by fossil fuels. The credibility of the PM’s crusade is dwarfed by the significance of his failures in building our nation’s resilience to extreme weather conditions. The lack of proper zoning, archaic building codes, inadequate drainage systems, lack of world-class shelters across our islands and major dependence on fossil fuels should cause Davis to temper his admonition to other nations. How could the PM lecture other nations when our streets still look like lakes whenever there is heavy rainfall in 2024?
Carbon credits breakthrough?
Day one of COP29 seems to have delivered a win for advocates with the approval of the rules that govern the trade of carbon credits, albeit there has been much criticism of the process, which lacked proper consultation, discussions, and collaboration. Locally, the commentary on the monetization of carbon credits and the financial benefits have been elaborate but when will these dreams be actualized? The need for proper governance, generally accepted standards, transparency and atmospheric integrity as one expert put it, is essential for a robust global carbon market. It is often said we should “follow the money” when there is extraordinary focus on a matter.
In this regard, should Bahamians be concerned about special interest groups poised to be enriched to the exclusion of the masses as we have seen in the BPL scandal if or when the carbon credits are monetized? If the major economies and oil-producing states continue to pay lip service to the climate change fight, what use is the money we are hoping to get from carbon credits going to be as sea levels continue to rise? Will future generations of Bahamians be here to spend that money, or will they be forced to relocate from the land of their birth to another jurisdiction? What exactly is the PM fighting for? Is this about the environment, energy and/or funding? In what order do these factors contribute to the plan to make us more resilient? Is there even a plan or are we just freestyling on this issue?
The Trump Card
The recent election of former President Donald Trump is a major development in the climate change discourse and advocacy. While Davis initially sought to downplay Trump’s expected impact on this topic, he seems to have realized that it would be delusional to ignore the climate change stance of the US under a Trump presidency. Trump has been quoted as saying that climate change is a hoax, he supports oil drilling and is not a big fan of the aggressive transition to electric vehicles. Davis struck a different tone during a speech in Baku with an obvious swipe at Trump without mentioning his name. The PM stated that the greatest challenge in the climate change fight is political change, he lamented nations’ retreat from climate commitments and condemned the pull towards isolationism.
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that Davis was referring to Trump in his speech. During his last term in office, Trump withdrew the US from the Paris Agreement, and he vowed to withdraw the US from the Agreement for the second time once he was elected. For context, this is a landmark treaty that covers climate change mitigation, adaptation and finance. As a global leader in greenhouse gas emissions and oil production, the US is pivotal to the achievement of climate change goals. What will the re-election of Trump for the second non-consecutive term mean for climate change? Only time will tell but what can Bahamians expect from COP29? Hopefully, not the same old rhetoric following a taxpayer-funded trip for the PM and the Bahamian delegation.
Written by: Arinthia S. Komolafe
Loading ...
