The United Nations’ annual climate conference this Wednesday saw more than two dozen world leaders converge to share their nations’ firsthand experiences with climate change and discuss collaborative solutions. Among the high-profile speakers were leaders from countries that have experienced extreme weather events, bearing witness to the devastating impacts of climate change.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was expected to address the conference, sharing Pakistan’s struggles with increasingly intense monsoon rains and deadly floods, which scientists attribute to climate change. This year alone, Pakistan experienced severe flooding, mirroring the devastating flood of 2022 that claimed over 1,700 lives. Additionally, the country faced an intense heatwave this spring, with temperatures soaring to 47 degrees Celsius, leading to widespread heatstroke and thousands of hospitalisations.
Bahamas Prime Minister Philip Edward Davis also delivered remarks, detailing the toll climate change has taken on his island nation. Like other countries in the Global South, the Bahamas has accumulated significant debt in the wake of climate-linked disasters, despite contributing minimally to global warming. Devastating hurricanes such as Dorian in 2019 and Matthew in 2016 left the Bahamas in need of substantial financial assistance. Leaders like Davis continue to call on wealthier nations and fossil fuel companies to contribute more to climate finance.
Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis also took the stage to describe the record-breaking heat waves that battered southern Europe this summer. Greece has endured several years of below-average rainfall, which, combined with intense summer heat, led to severe drought, water shortages, dried-up lakes, and tragic loss of wildlife. Such challenges are increasingly common across Europe and underscore the urgent need for climate action.
The list of leaders included figures from Italy, Tuvalu, Russia, Morocco, the Congo, and representatives from the Vatican. Their diverse perspectives emphasised that climate change is not just a local issue but a truly global crisis requiring immediate, unified action.
Noticeably absent from this year’s COP29 are representatives from the 13 largest carbon dioxide-emitting countries, which collectively account for more than 70 per cent of the world’s heat-trapping emissions. Neither the United States nor China, the two largest polluters, were represented by their top leaders. India and Indonesia were also missing from the lineup, raising concerns about how the absence of these major players might impact the efficacy of the conference.
However, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer was present and made a landmark announcement, setting an ambitious target for an 81 per cent reduction in emissions from 1990 levels by 2035. This commitment surpasses the UK’s previous pledge of a 78 per cent reduction and aligns with the Paris Agreement’s aim to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Starmer’s pledge was well-received, demonstrating the UK’s continued leadership on climate issues.
The central theme of this year’s talks was climate finance, focusing on how wealthier nations could provide financial assistance to developing countries grappling with the impacts of climate change. This support is essential to help these countries both adapt to changing conditions and shift their economies away from fossil fuels towards sustainable, green alternatives.
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Another significant item on the agenda was the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, a proposal that draws inspiration from previous treaties controlling nuclear weapons, plastic pollution, and chemical weapons. Advocates argue that such a treaty could prevent further expansion of fossil fuel production, establish fair guidelines for phasing out oil, gas, and coal, and expedite the transition to renewable energy sources. The treaty has garnered endorsements from a range of supporters, including the European Parliament, the World Health Organisation (WHO), and several nations such as Fiji, Colombia, Vanuatu, and the Solomon Islands. Indigenous groups in Peru have also backed the initiative, recognising its potential to protect natural resources and prevent further environmental degradation.
As COP29 progresses, the hope remains that this global platform will foster stronger partnerships and commitments to address the climate crisis. While the absence of major polluters is a cause for concern, the continued dedication of other nations demonstrates a resolve to keep climate change at the forefront of international policy. The urgent appeals from vulnerable countries serve as a sobering reminder of what is at stake.
The conference’s outcomes will be closely watched, particularly in terms of how wealthy nations respond to calls for financial aid and whether the idea of a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty gains traction. The world’s most vulnerable communities are bearing the brunt of climate impacts, and for them, these discussions are not merely symbolic but a lifeline. For many, COP29 represents an opportunity to secure meaningful change and support as they face an increasingly unpredictable and harsh climate reality.
