Future UN climate summits should only be held in nations that...: Experts
People attend the United Nations climate change conference COP29 opening in Baku, Azerbaijan November 11, 2024. Photograph:( Reuters )
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COP29 is being held in Baku Azerbaijan. The summit started on Monday (Nov 11) and would go on till November 22. Azerbaijan is a controversial host for the conference, as it is a major fossil fuel producer.
COP29 is being held in Baku Azerbaijan. The summit started on Monday (Nov 11) and would go on till November 22. Azerbaijan is a controversial host for the conference, as it is a major fossil fuel producer.
A group of climate policy experts said that future climate summits of the United Nations (UN) should be held only in countries that can show clear support for climate action and have stricter rules on fossil fuel lobbying.
A report by The Guardian early Friday (Nov 15) said that the group, which includes former UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon and former UN climate chief Christiana Figueres, wrote a letter to the United Nations.
In the letter, the group demanded the current complex process of annual conferences of the parties under the UN framework convention on climate change be streamlined, and meetings should be held more frequently.
“It is now clear that the Cop is no longer fit for purpose. We need a shift from negotiation to implementation,” the letter added.
The criticism of holding COP29 in Azerbaijan
COP29 is being held in Azerbaijan's capital Baku. The summit started on Monday (Nov 11) and would go on till November 22.
Also read | World leaders remain divided at COP29 even as fresh concerns raised over climate change
The Guardian reported that Azerbaijan is a controversial host for the conference, as it is a major fossil fuel producer.
The country also has had a poor human rights record for many years and the government has regularly targeted journalists, activists and independent politicians.
On Thursday, environmental activist Greta Thunberg said, "Azerbaijan is an extremely repressive state, a petrostate that is planning to expand fossil fuel production."
Before the summit began, one of the key members of the Azerbaijan government’s organising team was filmed appearing to offer help striking fossil fuel deals.
In its letter, the group of climate policy experts also said there was a need for "strict eligibility criteria to exclude countries who do not support the phase-out/transition away from fossil energy."
"Host countries must demonstrate their high level of ambition to uphold the goals of the Paris Agreement,” the group added.
(With inputs from agencies)
