Shigeaki Takai’s Post

As COP29 comes towards it end in Baku, increasing concerns about its effectiveness have surfaced. Despite some progress, notably in climate finance mechanisms and global solidarity levies aimed at supporting developing countries, leading climate policy experts argue that the process is becoming unfit for purpose. Influential figures, including Ban Ki-moon and Christiana Figueres, emphasize the need for reforms, such as hosting future COPs only in countries that demonstrate genuine support for climate action. The overwhelming presence of fossil fuel lobbyists further diminishes the conference's focus on the just transition needed to address the climate crisis. While proposals like the introduction of new levies and a push for fiscal justice show promise, the slow movement on key financial agreements indicates that significant changes are needed to ensure COP truly advances from negotiation to implementation. #ClimateAction #COP29 #SustainableFuture #ClimateJustice https://lnkd.in/e6mBvCvJ

COP29: EU, FG to train Nigeria’s climate negotiators The European Union (EU) and the Federal Government (FG) are teaming up to train Nigeria's climate negotiators ahead of the highly anticipated COP29 conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, this November. This collaborative effort aims to enhance the capacity of Nigerian negotiators to effectively advocate for the country's interests and contribute meaningfully to global climate discussions. Ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference, scheduled for November 11 to 22, 2024, in Baku, Azerbaijan, the European Union is partnering with the National Council on Climate Change to train Nigeria’s climate negotiators. According to a statement released by the EU on Tuesday, the negotiators have been tasked with effectively advocating for national interests and building consensus, which is crucial for securing meaningful global agreements that align with the priorities and interests of local constituencies. At the training session for climate negotiators on Monday in Abuja, Massimo De Luca, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, highlighted Nigeria’s leadership following COP28. According to him, Nigeria was one of the first countries to support the EU’s global pledge to triple renewable energy sources and double energy efficiency by 2030. He further disclosed that the EU would support the NCCC in reviewing three target sectors of the NDC: waste, energy, and the circular economy. “This is why the EU is pleased to continue our partnership with the NCCC on climate governance to ensure the successful implementation of Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contributions and other climate actions", De Luca added. In her remarks, Dr Nkiruka Madueke, the Director-General of the NCCC, underlined the importance of Nigeria taking the lead in Africa and globally in climate change discussions at COP29, hence the need to train its own climate negotiators. Describing climate negotiation as serious business, she stressed the need for Nigeria to have a solid team for UNFCCC discussions. “We cannot claim to be the giant of Africa if we are not a major player in climate negotiations", she stated, adding: “Climate change is the most diverse, multidimensional, multidisciplinary, and cross-cutting challenge we face. If we do not treat it seriously, we will be left behind", African negotiators, including those from Nigeria, have identified key priorities for COP29, including securing increased climate finance, ensuring adaptation and loss and damage receive equal attention with mitigation efforts, and promoting sustainable development. The EU's support will likely focus on strengthening Nigeria's negotiation skills and enhancing its ability to drive climate action. The training program will empower Nigerian climate negotiators with the knowledge, skills, and expertise required to navigate complex international climate negotiations effectively.

🔎 Financing, attendance, lobbyists... Catch up with what happened at COP29 this week. 1️⃣ COP29 kicks off: The United Nations' annual climate conference began on 11 November in Baku, Azerbaijan with a focus on funding for developing nations. "The actual negotiations in Baku will make this one of the most important, and fiercely contested, UN summits to date," writes Simon Mundy, moral money editor with the Financial Times. https://lnkd.in/eErfGb3U 2️⃣ Poor attendance: COP29 has been marred by a string of high-profile no-shows, including European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and outgoing US president Joe Biden. "Their absence will surely shift the dynamics of COP29, potentially altering discussions on essential issues like climate finance, emission reduction commitments and global climate resilience initiatives," says energy expert Dante Powell. https://lnkd.in/e4ShVgYM 3️⃣ Fossil fuel transition: This year is on track to set the record for global carbon emissions, with a rise of 0.8% expected. "It is really high time to focus on phasing out fossil fuels instead of struggling with pointless bureaucratic monsters for forest and land management," writes Kasimir P. Nemestothy, the head of energy economics and energy policy at the Austrian Chamber of Agriculture. https://lnkd.in/ek6dFidq 4️⃣ Global heating to increase: The planet is on course for a temperature rise of 2.7C above the pre-industrial average by the end of the century if current policies remain. "Key challenges remain: Fossil fuel subsidies are at an all-time high, and funding for fossil fuel-prolonging projects quadrupled between 2021 and 2022," says Frederic Hans, senior climate policy advisor at Climate Action Tracker, which carried out the analysis.  https://lnkd.in/ev4YRPFY 5️⃣ COP is 'not fit for purpose': A group of high-profile climate voices has said the conference should only be hosted by countries which have shown support for climate action and have restricted fossil fuel lobbying. "During COP1, global temperatures were only 0.4°C above pre-industrial levels," writes Muhammad Urs, founder of a climate action group. "Today, they’ve soared, underscoring the urgent need for real action over prolonged negotiations". https://lnkd.in/e6Mb9iEe Follow COP29 news on LinkedIn ➡️ https://lnkd.in/e2j9eupJ 🎙️ What do you think leaders should focus on at COP? Share your thoughts in the comments or a post using the following hashtags: #LinkedInNewsEurope #COP29 #GreenerTogether

🌍 Is COP still fit for the fast-moving nature of the climate crisis?   Earlier this week, COP29 kicked off in Azerbaijan, with a critical focus on climate finance. Yet, the first week has been anything but smooth.   The summit has already been marred by tension, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer being one of the few G7 leaders in attendance, and the Green Party's call to reform COP by excluding fossil fuel companies and their lobbyists.   Adding to the controversy, host Azerbaijan’s president called natural gas a “gift from God” and defended its market presence.   In previous years, COPs have achieved landmark agreements, from the 2015 Paris Agreement to nations more recently committing to tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030. However, this year’s summit leaves many questioning the process. With reports from the Guardian that 1,773 fossil fuel lobbyists have been granted access to the talks in Baku, serious concerns over conflicts of interest have arisen.   Experts are now calling for urgent reform.   In a letter to the UN, leaders such as former UN Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon and former Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC Christiana Figueres advocate that COP hosts must support the phase-out of fossil fuels.   As COP29 heads into its second week, the question remains as to what meaningful action will emerge from this crucial summit.    Importantly, we also need to see a formal response from the UN to calls for reform, a reaction that will need to be strong enough to rejuvenate internal leaders faith in the process after a year of such controversy   Read more about the calls for reform here ⬇ https://lnkd.in/e6mBvCvJ

Cop summits ‘no longer fit for purpose’, say leading climate policy experts https://lnkd.in/d7tnbNxP A group of influential climate policy experts has called for future UN climate summits to be held in countries that support climate action and have stricter rules on fossil fuel lobbying. The group has written to the UN demanding a streamlined process of annual "conferences of the parties" under the UN framework convention on climate change, the parent treaty of the Paris agreement. The focus of Cop29 is to supply enough cash to poor countries to help them cut greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate-driven extreme weather. The group believes that developed countries should provide a third of the funding by 2030, while most of the rest should come from the private sector. Some countries are also looking for new sources of finance to plug the gaps, such as charging cryptocurrencies, charging plastics production levies, a 2% wealth tax, or taxing frequent flyers and business class airline tickets.

Internal correspondence obtained by The Narwhal shows a group of Canadian oilsands companies proposed to Environment and Climate Change Canada that it host a special event at the UN climate summit in 2022 “to begin to change the international narrative of [the] oilsands.” The companies told the government one of their “desired outcomes” of the event at the Canada Pavilion at COP27 was an “improved perception of the oilsands among international audiences.” Their “first choice” of when to hold the event was during a day of the summit devoted to the theme of “decarbonization.” The public description of the oilsands lobby’s 2022 event made no mention of its intent to boost its reputation. Around the time of the event, dozens of civil society organizations called on Minister Guilbeault to reverse course, arguing the industry was greenwashing. Guilbeault defended the influx of oil lobbyists, saying they “can have their voices heard just like everyone else.” Just days after the event, however, the government launched consultations that would eventually lead to new anti-greenwashing provisions that were criticized by the industry as effectively silencing them. The oilsands lobby’s application to host the event followed a series of emails to senior Canadian public servants saying they were “very interested in being part of the Canadian business delegation to COP27.” They added they thought Canada “may be looking for speakers or other programming” for the pavilion in Egypt “and I’m sure Pathways would be very interested in helping there as well.” Environment Canada says the Canada Pavilion at COP27 "provided a venue for Canada to convene key partners and stakeholders to advance global actions on climate change through the lenses of ambition, partnership and implementation.” The UN’s preliminary list of delegates to the climate summit happening now, COP29, shows two Pathways Alliance officials registered to attend, as well as representatives from most of the group’s member companies. The department said it would not release the list of delegates until after the conference was over. https://lnkd.in/eJzyV5Nf

COP29: While Baku delivered the bare minimum, multilevel action is more vital than ever to keep climate ambition on track. Upon the conclusion of #COP29, the Local Governments and Municipal Authorities (LGMA) Constituency welcomes the first major climate finance deal in fifteen years. However, the deal is inadequate to ensure that communities around the world can protect themselves and represents the absolute floor of finance that is needed. With a disappointing lack of ambition in the overall COP29 outcomes, the LGMA Constituency stressed the increasing importance of #MultilevelAction to ensure the climate fight continues at speed and scale. Read the LGMA response to the outcomes, including statements from LGMA members and partners ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eMhd97jA Check out our recap of cities and regions taking action on the global climate stage at COP29 in Baku! Read more in our latest mailer 📥 https://lnkd.in/eVuk5Ryh #ICLEI, #LGMA, United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), European Committee of the Regions, Local Councils' Association Malta, Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR), PLATFORMA, Global Cities Hub, Climate Group, WWF, Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM), Regions4

🌍 COP29: Are We Falling Short on Climate Action? As the climate crisis intensifies, the COP29 conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, has faced significant challenges. Major figures such as U.S. President Joe Biden, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are not attending, , leaving critical decisions in the hands of delegations without direct authority. This situation is particularly concerning as critical topics—like climate finance, adaptation strategies, and setting a new financial goal for supporting vulnerable countries—require committed, high-level engagement for effective resolution.. The absence of key leaders is already undermining the potential for strong, coordinated global action on climate change Fossil fuel companies like Shell are already taking over the stage. Shell’s participation and proposals at COP29, such as pledges to invest in green technologies, have been met with skepticism. Many critics view these pledges as “greenwashing,” fearing that fossil fuel giants may be using the platform to enhance their image without committing to genuine reductions in emissions or divesting from fossil fuel projects. Given the lack of clear, enforceable plans, many suspect that these moves are more about public relations than real climate action and , diverting attention from real accountability. The challenges at COP29 are amplified by the shadow of Donald Trump’s re-election. Trump has signaled that he may again withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Agreement, which could significantly impact global climate action, especially as U.S. policy shifts back toward fossil fuel production. This adds an extra layer of uncertainty and may further impede cooperation, especially among countries looking for strong U.S. leadership in climate initiatives. To have meaningful outcomes at COP29, leaders and negotiators need to push for binding commitments rather than vague promises. Rich countries must take concrete steps to increase climate finance, ensuring that funds reach the communities most impacted by climate change. Additionally, countries should consider holding fossil fuel companies accountable by implementing clear frameworks to reduce emissions and foster a shift to renewable energy. The stakes are higher than ever. With global temperatures and climate disasters on the rise, our leaders must step up. Here’s what COP29 participants need to achieve if we are to consider this COP a successful one. 1. Concrete, binding commitments on climate finance for vulnerable communities. 2. Accountability frameworks for fossil fuel companies to prevent greenwashing. 3. A focus on renewable energy investment and fossil fuel divestment. Let’s demand action from COP29. It’s time for leaders to prioritize sustainable policies and financial commitments that match the urgency of the climate crisis. Let's push harder guys! Our hopes are in you #COP29 #ClimateAction #Sustainability #RenewableEnergy #Greenwashing

Time to Rethink Climate Summits? The COP29 in Baku has ignited important conversations, not just about climate finance and emission cuts, but also about where and how we hold these summits. Despite 28 COPs to date, we’re still seeing rapid climate change. During COP1, global temperatures were only 0.4°C above pre-industrial levels. Today, they’ve soared, underscoring the urgent need for real action over prolonged negotiations. Leading voices like Ban Ki-moon and Mary Robinson are now questioning the effectiveness of the current COP structure. They’re calling for stricter criteria for host countries and a shift from negotiation to focused implementation. With fossil fuel lobbyists often outnumbering vulnerable communities, we need a fairer, more inclusive process. This is about climate justice, fiscal accountability, and ensuring that those most affected by climate change have a real voice. What are your thoughts? Is it time to evolve COP to make a real impact? #COP29 #ClimateChange #Sustainability #ClimateAction #GreenFinance https://lnkd.in/dBNA8ugv