At the opening of the COP29 UN climate summit in Azerbaijan, UN Secretary-General António Guterres painted a bleak picture of the planet’s ongoing climate crisis, characterizing this year as “a masterclass in human destruction.” Guterres described climate-fueled disasters around the world, such as catastrophic floods, deadly heatwaves, and food shortages, all intensified by human-driven climate change. Nearly 200 countries have gathered for two weeks of discussions on securing critical funds needed to address the growing impacts of global warming.
Developing nations are pressing for a guaranteed $1 trillion annually by 2035 to help them reduce emissions and adapt to extreme weather. Yet, the talks have been overshadowed by the re-election of Donald Trump, who is known for his skepticism of climate science. Key global leaders, such as the UK’s Keir Starmer and Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, attended the summit, though most heads of major economies did not.
Starmer announced new UK climate targets, aiming for an 81% reduction in emissions from 1990 levels by 2035, with plans to shift the country’s energy reliance from fossil fuels to renewable sources. Greenpeace’s senior policy adviser, Rebecca Newsom, praised the ambitious goal, highlighting the potential for economic growth and job creation within the green energy sector. However, she noted the need for additional policies, particularly to support a just transition for workers in traditional energy industries.
At the summit, Simon Stiell, the UN’s lead climate official, warned of dire economic consequences if urgent action isn’t taken to reduce greenhouse gases. He argued that unchecked climate disasters are becoming a “cost-of-living crisis,” escalating prices for consumers and businesses alike. “Worsening climate impacts will put inflation on steroids,” Stiell emphasized, calling for climate finance as “global inflation insurance.”
President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, the summit’s host nation, emphasized his country’s reliance on fossil fuel exports, which constitute 90% of its economy. Aliyev, who defended Azerbaijan’s continued oil and gas production, described it as “a gift from God” despite contrasting appeals from leaders of vulnerable nations, such as Hilda Heine of the Marshall Islands, for more urgent climate action and fair access to climate funding.
Though early summit discussions were mired by technical issues, officials managed to pass a contentious resolution on carbon offset trading. Talks will proceed as leaders like Italy’s Giorgia Meloni and Pakistan’s Shehbaz Sharif prepare to address the gathering on the need for immediate global climate action.
