UN urges world leaders to act now on climate change at COP29 summit

At the COP29 climate summit in Baku, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres delivered a powerful message to world leaders: "Pay up" to stop climate disasters. 

He warned that time is running out to prevent dangerous global temperature rise, which could cause irreversible damage to the planet.

Nearly 200 nations have gathered in Baku for this important event. The focus is on raising billions of dollars to help countries transition to cleaner energy and reduce the harmful impact of carbon emissions. However, many key world leaders were missing from the summit on the day when Guterres spoke.

No-Shows at COP29

US President Joe Biden, for example, did not attend the summit due to political changes following Donald Trump’s victory in the previous US elections. 

Similarly, Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a deputy instead of attending, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stayed home because of political issues in Brussels.

Even without many top leaders present, Guterres made it clear that climate finance is urgent. He emphasized that the world must step up and pay for the changes needed to avoid a future filled with climate disasters. "The world must pay up, or humanity will pay the price," he said.

Global Warming Threatens Future Generations

Scientists have warned that global warming is happening faster than expected. The world might have already crossed the critical threshold of 1.5°C of warming above pre-industrial levels. If temperatures rise further, the effects could be severe and permanent, bringing extreme weather events and natural disasters.

2024 is already on track to become the hottest year on record. Climate change is no longer a distant threat; it is happening now. From wildfires on the US east coast to devastating floods in Spain, the signs of climate change are everywhere.

In Spain, recent floods have been the worst the country has seen in modern history. The government has already announced billions of euros for reconstruction and recovery efforts. This situation is a clear reminder of how urgent it is to act on climate change.

COP29's Key Agreement and Challenges

As COP29 began, there was some progress. A key technical deal was reached that will help set up a global carbon market. This market aims to raise billions of dollars to fund projects that can reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions.

However, not everything at the summit went smoothly. There were disagreements over the summit’s priorities. 

European nations and small island countries wanted a stronger focus on reducing fossil fuels, while Arab nations had different views on the matter. This led to a delay in the summit’s opening, with procedures delayed by over five hours before a compromise was reached.

Even with the tensions, COP29 officials are still focused on the main goal: securing up to $1 trillion per year for climate finance. This funding is essential to help developing countries take strong climate action.

Climate Crisis Affects All Countries

Simon Stiell, head of the UNFCCC, stressed that climate change affects everyone, rich and poor. He explained that climate change is becoming an economic disaster for all nations. 

"If every country doesn't reduce emissions, the economy will suffer," he said. Rising costs due to climate change can hurt every household and lead to higher inflation.