COP29 will see around 100 world leaders gather in Baku amid climate urgency. Participation is notably lower among G20 leaders, with significant representation from developing countries and only select EU leaders attending. Lacking attendance from key Latin American leaders, the summit underscores the critical need for global climate dialogue as 2024 approaches record high temperatures.
The COP29 UN climate summit is set to occur in Baku, Azerbaijan, where around 100 global leaders and heads of state are predicted to participate. This meeting comes at a critical juncture as 2024 appears poised to break temperature records, amplifying the urgency for effective climate action. Notably, attendance from prominent leaders seems diminished compared to previous summits, particularly COP28 held in Dubai and COP26 in Glasgow in 2021. Among the G20 nations, only four leaders have confirmed their attendance: Keir Starmer of the United Kingdom, Giorgia Meloni from Italy, Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The absence of Russian President Vladimir Putin is prominent, though Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin is expected to represent Russia. Collectively, G20 nations account for 77 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, underscoring the significance of their involvement in climate negotiations. In terms of European representation, only Spain’s Pedro Sanchez and Poland’s Andrzej Duda will attend among the larger EU nations. However, leaders from smaller EU states such as Belgium, Bulgaria, and Malta are expected to partake. European Council chief Charles Michel will address the summit, while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will notably miss the event. Leaders from vulnerable developing nations, especially those from Africa and the Pacific Islands, are also expected to attend in significant numbers, with Kenya’s William Ruto and Bangladesh’s Muhammad Yunus leading the delegation. Barbados Premier Mia Mottley, a long-time advocate for climate finance reform, is also slated to speak at the conference. Conversely, Latin America will see scant representation, with notable absences from key leaders including Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Colombia’s Gustavo Petro, and Mexico’s Claudia Sheinbaum. Brazil’s Vice President Geraldo Alckmin will fill in for Lula, as Brazil is scheduled to host COP30 in Belem next year.
COP29, the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, represents a crucial platform for world leaders to discuss and negotiate strategies to combat climate change. With alarming predictions indicating that 2024 could surpass previous temperature records, the stakes for effective dialogue are higher than ever. The disparity in attendance from prominent leaders compared to previous COP meetings raises questions about global commitment to tackling climate change, particularly among the G20 nations, which are significant contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions. The engagement of leaders from developing nations is critical as they face the most severe impacts of climate change, highlighting the need for a robust international response to safeguard vulnerable populations.
In summary, COP29 is poised to engage approximately 100 world leaders, though attendance from prominent G20 leaders appears lower than in previous years. The participation of developing nations is expected to be robust, which reflects the growing urgency to address climate change impacts on vulnerable communities. As the global community confronts the pressing issue of rising temperatures, the engagement levels seen at COP29 may signal broader trends in international cooperation surrounding climate action.
Original Source: www.al-monitor.com
