UN told current Cop is no longer fit to deliver climate change
Analysis from the Kick Big Polluters Out group showed significantly more fossil lobbyists have been granted access to Cop29] than almost every country delegation. Picture: AP /Peter Dejong
The United Nations has been told Cop is no longer fit for purpose to deliver climate change at the speed and scale which is essential.
In an open letter signed by dignitaries including former president Mary Robinson and former secretary-general of the United Nations Ban Ki-Moon, a number of major reforms are put forward to improve and/or replace the Cop.
The letter was published as it was confirmed that for a third straight Cop gathering, fossil fuel lobbyists were among the top five represented groups.
Analysis from the Kick Big Polluters Out group, a coalition of more than 450 organisations across the globe, showed significantly more fossil lobbyists have been granted access to Cop29 than almost every country delegation.
The 1,773 fossil fuel lobbyists registered in Baku are only outnumbered by delegations sent by host Azerbaijan (2,229), Cop30 host Brazil (1,914), and Turkey (1,862).
Fossil fuel lobbyists were given more passes to Cop than the 10 most climate vulnerable nations combined (1,033).
Furthermore, at least 123 oil and gas company bosses and staff were invited to Baku as “guests” by the Azerbaijani government and given host country badges — including the boss of Saudi oil giant Aramco.
In the open letter, the signatories say the attendance of fossil fuel lobbyists presents a “systemic imbalance in Cop representation”.
They add: "The global climate policy process is no longer fit for purpose and requires comprehensive overhaul to ensure planetary stability and a liveable future for humanity.”
One of their recommendations to Cop executive secretary Simon Stiell and UN secretary-general António Guterres is there needs to be “strict eligibility criteria to exclude countries who do not support the phase out/transition away from fossil energy”.
The last three Cop events have taken place in oil-rich regions — Egypt for Cop27, UAE for Cop28 and Azerbaijan for Cop29.
In response to calls for a change in the Cop process, Michai Robertson, the climate finance negotiator for the Alliance of Small Island States [SIDS], said: “While others may have their criticisms of the Cop process, it’s extremely important for us because that is the only time that our voice can be clearly heard.”
In their letter, the signatories also call for the Cop process to be strengthened with mechanisms to “hold countries accountable for their climate targets and commitments".
They add: “In 2024, the task is unequivocal: global greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced by four billion tonnes.
“We need a shift from negotiation to implementation, enabling the Cop to deliver on agreed commitments and ensure the urgent energy transition and phase-out of fossil energy.”
Elsewhere, new data published on Friday by climate organisation Trace, which tracks pollution, found cities in Asia and the United Stats emit the most "heat-trapping" gas.
Seven states or provinces emit more than one billion metric tons of greenhouse gases.
Cop will continue until next Friday, by which point it is hoped the 195 nations gathered will have agreed on a new climate financial goal to help the most at-risk nations.
The fund, known as the NCQG, is expected to be in the region of hundreds of trillions of euro.
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