In combating climate change—which threatens our shared home, Earth—only a unified goal, free from prejudice and political division, grounded in trust and sincere, selfless commitment to a healthy and sustainable future, will enable us to preserve the planet for future generations.
It’s well known that over 75% of global greenhouse emissions and nearly 90% of all CO₂ emissions result from coal, oil, and gas extraction. Greenhouse gases trap solar heat, inevitably leading to global warming and climate change. Rising temperatures disrupt weather patterns, which in turn upsets the natural balance and creates numerous risks for humans and other life forms on Earth.
Despite these looming threats, it seems that for some leaders of supposedly developed countries, climate issues are a low priority. They appear more focused on criticizing others, casting blame, and attaching labels of “shame” rather than abandoning empty rhetoric and hypocritical double standards. Instead of making productive contributions, certain Western representatives are engaged in a smear campaign against nations that have chosen not to become subservient.
This week, Baku has become a hub for discussing humanity’s most pressing issue: climate change. The Azerbaijani capital welcomed 72,000 participants from 196 countries, including 80 presidents, vice-presidents, and heads of government.
Among the attendees were leaders from the UK, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Poland, Greece, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Serbia, and other nations. Additionally, European Council President Charles Michel attended COP29, unlike European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
During the conference, Michel called for a “fair and inclusive transition.”
“Our collective fight is existential. We must choose the instinct of survival over collective self-destruction. At the same time, we must take steps toward a fair and inclusive transition,” he wrote on social media platform X, emphasizing that the European community “is ready to take on this challenge.”
Although some political and expert circles approached COP29’s goals with skepticism, the conference deserves recognition as a valuable and effective platform. Since the adoption of the Paris Agreement in 2015, aimed at fighting climate change and its negative consequences, numerous discussions have taken place, yet consensus on Article 6 remains elusive.
For context, Article 6 is a key component of the Paris Agreement, enabling parties to voluntarily collaborate in meeting their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and mobilizing financial support for developing countries.
Article 6 outlines three tools:
Article 6.2: Allows countries to exchange results in climate action bilaterally to help fulfill their NDCs.
Article 6.4: Establishes a new mechanism for validating, verifying, and issuing high-quality carbon credits.
Article 6.8: Provides countries with options for cooperation to achieve their NDCs without relying on carbon markets.
At COP29 in Baku, a global agreement was reached on Article 6.4 on the very first day, fostering hope that the anticipated consensus on Article 6 as a whole, which is of fundamental importance, will become a reality. The United States and the European Union play a major role in advancing agreements on this key article.
Meanwhile, international financial corporations and banks have already announced an increase in climate change financing. For instance, the World Bank has committed to raising its investment to $170 billion. Such commitments create a favorable atmosphere for negotiations at COP29, aiming for a historic agreement on new climate finance goals.
The funds are especially needed to help poorer countries manage the impacts of climate change. Addressing the causes of the global climate crisis and adapting to its effects, which typically affect poorer nations more severely, demands swift and comprehensive measures.
The agreements reached at COP29 send a crucial message to the international community: to pursue a shared goal and act toward building a safer, climate-resilient, and more sustainable future.
Alla Zeydullayeva
Translated from minval.az
