This year’s United Nations Climate Change Conference, known as COP29, has been overshadowed by Donald Trump’s victory in the U.S. presidential election—an outcome that almost guarantees that Washington will back out of its international climate commitments.
Election aside, an air of unease has loomed over the climate talks in Baku, Azerbaijan, a country that relies on oil and gas production. The presence of many fossil fuel-linked lobbyists at the summit has sparked criticism. A group of climate leaders, including former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, wrote to the U.N. last week to say that COP is “no longer fit for purpose.”
This year’s United Nations Climate Change Conference, known as COP29, has been overshadowed by Donald Trump’s victory in the U.S. presidential election—an outcome that almost guarantees that Washington will back out of its international climate commitments.
Election aside, an air of unease has loomed over the climate talks in Baku, Azerbaijan, a country that relies on oil and gas production. The presence of many fossil fuel-linked lobbyists at the summit has sparked criticism. A group of climate leaders, including former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, wrote to the U.N. last week to say that COP is “no longer fit for purpose.”
Can the U.N. climate talks be fixed? And if not, what are other ways to spur global action as the world barrels toward 1.5 degrees of warming? The essays below offer big-picture analysis of the current state of the international climate movement, as well as some suggestions for new ways forward.
Billionaires Must Help Fix the Planet
It’s time for the ultra-rich to take responsibility for their role in the climate crisis, Ban Ki-moon writes.
How to Force Capitalism to Stop Climate Change
Central banks should stop pretending to be neutral about saving the planet, Jason Hickel and Charles Stevenson write.
No, It’s Not Too Late to Save the Planet
Doomism robs people of the agency and incentive to participate in a solution to the climate crisis, Paul Hockenos writes.
Relieve Debt to Protect the Environment
Debt-for-nature swaps on a grand scale could slow climate change and promote economic growth in the Global South, Elizabeth Losos, Alexander Pfaff, and Stuart Pimm write.
Is Climate Activism Working?
FP’s Cameron Abadi and Adam Tooze discuss how in Germany and elsewhere, the impact has been modest.
The post How to Make Climate Action Actually Work appeared first on Foreign Policy.
