‘Cut the theatrics’: COP29 delegates receive climate chief’s instructions
The window of opportunity to broker a long-overdue finance deal at this year’s UN climate summit is narrowing, and something has to give.
‘We can’t lose sight of the forest because we’re tussling over individual trees,’ Simon Stiell said, urging nations to wrap up ‘less contentious issues’ as early as possible to make room for major, historic agreements to be made.
‘Bluffing, brinksmanship, and pre-mediated playbooks’ are taking up precious time and exhausting patience and goodwill towards the prospect of any milestone in mitigation and adaptation regulations and international frameworks, Stiell continued.
He also warned of the grave threat posed by ‘an outbreak of you-first-ism’ among delegates having seen many representatives appear willing to dig in and double down, rather than compromise on particular proposals. Only when ‘parties are prepared to step forward in parallel, bringing us closer to common ground’ will talks stand a chance of progressing towards catalysing meaningful change.
The statement was made this afternoon, Monday 18th November, in Baku, where negotiators have been locked in talks for the past week with few signs of notable breakthroughs on the big subjects of this summit. According to reports from the past weekend, concerns are increasing that this year’s edition could end without successful brokering of a financing deal that is intended to come into effect next year.
You can keep abreast with the latest developments updates from COP29 via our dedicated section, here.
More recent news from COP29:
40% plastic production reduction won’t limit global warming to 1.5C
40% plastic production reduction won’t limit global warming to 1.5C
Image: Kyle Head