1. The Deal and Its Criticism
COP29 concluded with an agreement to provide developing countries $300 billion annually by 2035 for climate finance, a significant increase from the current $100 billion per year. However, many developing nations labeled the amount as insufficient, citing the inclusion of loans and last-minute negotiations as major concerns. India's delegate, Chandni Raina, criticized the deal as an "optical illusion" that fails to address the magnitude of the climate crisis. While some rich nations argued this was the best possible outcome given the impending presidency of Donald Trump, critics view the settlement as short-sighted, as it does little to support developing nations in reducing emissions effectively.
2. COP Under Strain
The conference, hosted by Azerbaijan, faced significant challenges. The host country's lack of experience with COP processes and President Ilham Aliyev's controversial remarks about oil and gas as a "gift from God" drew criticism. Azerbaijan's leadership follows a trend of authoritarian states hosting COP, raising questions about selection criteria. The event exposed deep divides, with some calling it the "worst COP in a decade," prompting calls for systemic reforms.
3. China's Growing Influence
As uncertainty looms over U.S. involvement under Trump, attention turned to China, the world's largest carbon emitter. Despite its designation as a "developing" country, China disclosed its climate finance contributions for the first time and agreed to a voluntary framework for funding vulnerable nations. Experts view this as a strategic move that could position China as a leading climate actor in the coming years.
4. Preparing for a Trump Presidency
Though absent, Donald Trump's potential return shaped discussions. Wealthy nations aimed to "Trump-proof" the agreement by extending funding commitments to 2035, ensuring the U.S. could rejoin efforts post-Trump. Efforts to involve China also served as a counterbalance to potential U.S. disengagement. The focus was on minimizing disruptions to global climate strategies.
5. Rising Activism
Environmental NGOs and campaigners adopted a more confrontational tone at COP29. Protesters targeted key figures like U.S. climate envoy John Podesta, expressing frustration with compromises in the final deal. While some activists pushed for outright rejection of the agreement, others supported vocal opposition during plenary sessions. This trend suggests that heightened activism may become a staple of future climate conferences.
As COP29 ends, the divisions and debates it highlighted raise questions about the future of international climate diplomacy, with many eyes already on next year's conference.