This Monday, November 11th, the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP 29) will kick off in Baku, Azerbaijan. As world leaders, negotiators, and climate advocates converge, there’s a heavy sense of urgency in the air. Nearly three decades since the first COP in Berlin, the world is far from turning the tide on the climate crisis. The sobering reality is that despite all the promises, summits, and action plans, the state of the climate has only worsened.
A World on Fire: The State of the Climate Crisis
The planet is warming at an alarming rate, with global temperatures continuing to rise steadily. The year 2023 has seen unprecedented heatwaves, droughts, floods, and wildfires. Just last week, Spain was battered by atypical weather events, with torrential rains causing widespread damage and chaos. These extreme events, once thought to be outliers, are becoming disturbingly common. The impacts of climate change are no longer abstract threats in distant futures—they are daily realities for millions around the world.
Yet, despite the scientific consensus and mounting evidence, we have seen little sign of significant progress in reversing the trend. Global carbon emissions continue to climb, deforestation is rampant, and fossil fuel subsidies remain entrenched. The very ecosystems that sustain life on Earth are being pushed to their breaking point.
The Trump Effect: Backsliding on Climate Commitments
The global mood has been further dampened by the re-election of Donald Trump as President of the United States. On the campaign trail, Trump made clear his disregard for climate science, dismissing climate change as a “hoax” and vowing to dismantle regulations that restrict fossil fuel industries. His previous presidency was marked by the withdrawal of the United States from the Paris Agreement—a move that sent shockwaves through the international community.
While some argue that his stance reflects a broader scepticism within his voter base, the reality is that the world’s second-largest emitter of greenhouse gases now has a leader whose policies are aligned with climate inaction. This shift threatens to unravel years of painstaking progress made under the Paris Agreement, which aims to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. Without the U.S. on board, the agreement’s ambitions look increasingly unattainable.
Where Does That Leave the COP Process?
The question on everyone’s mind as COP 29 begins is: Is the COP process still fit for purpose? Critics argue that these annual gatherings have become more about grand speeches and photo opportunities than driving meaningful change. Despite 28 years of negotiations, the hard truth is that emissions have not decreased, and the targets set in previous agreements are slipping out of reach.
But the harsh reality is this: COP remains the only global forum we have for coordinating international action on climate change. While it may be imperfect, it is the only process that brings nearly 200 countries together to discuss, negotiate, and—hopefully—commit to tangible climate action. To abandon COP now would be to abandon one of the few platforms where global cooperation on climate is still possible.
Listen to the Voices of the Future, Not Gaol Them
In recent years, the COP meetings have been marked by a growing presence of climate activists, many of whom are young people who see their futures slipping away in a haze of inaction. Yet, instead of listening to these voices, many governments have responded by criminalizing protests and imprisoning activists. This crackdown is not just unjust—it is counterproductive.
The harsh truth is that climate activists are not the enemies of progress; they are the conscience of a world that has lost its way. Instead of dismissing their demands, world leaders should be listening more closely. These young people are demanding what the science says is necessary: a radical shift away from fossil fuels, a rapid scaling up of renewable energy, and systemic changes to how we live, produce, and consume.
The Road Ahead: Can COP 29 Deliver?
The stakes for COP 29 could not be higher. The window to limit global warming to 1.5°C is closing fast, and the decisions made in Baku will determine whether we have any chance of meeting that target. But it will require more than just lofty promises and voluntary commitments. It will require legally binding agreements, accountability mechanisms, and, most importantly, the political will to act.
The climate crisis is not a problem that can be solved by any one nation alone. It requires a level of global cooperation and solidarity that transcends borders and political ideologies. As COP 29 begins, the world will be watching. We cannot afford another round of broken promises and unmet targets. The time for action is now—or never.
In the face of climate denial, political inertia, and vested interests, it is easy to lose hope. But giving up is not an option. As the world gathers once more in Baku, let this be a moment to rekindle the spirit of collective action, to heed the science, and to finally take the urgent steps needed to secure a liveable future for all.
Because, in the end, if COP fails, we all fail. And the cost of that failure is one that none of us can afford.
While You Are Here…
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