Leaders, experts demand overhaul of COP to address crisis

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg stages a United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) protest outside a UN representative office in Yerevan on November 15, 2024.[AFP]

Global leaders and climate experts have termed the current COP process as unfit to address the accelerating climate crisis.

In a detailed open letter to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat and UN Secretary-General António Guterres, they demanded a fundamental overhaul of the COP framework.

They include former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and former UN climate chief Christiana Figueres,  and former Irish President Mary Robinson.

The experts also called for sweeping reforms to make the process faster, more accountable, and focused on tangible results.

The letter, also signed by 20 experts, acknowledged the progress achieved over the past 28 years, including the Paris Agreement and commitments to phase out fossil fuels.

However, they argue that these accomplishments have not translated into meaningful reductions in emissions, which continue to rise.

Global greenhouse gas emissions, instead of falling, have increased by nearly one percent this year alone, jeopardising efforts to limit global warming to 1.5 degree Celsius.

While praising the Paris Agreement’s framework as scientifically rigorous, they stressed that it is no longer sufficient on its own to tackle the escalating crisis.

They warn that without urgent action, the world is on track to exceed 2.9 Degrees Celsius of warming by the end of the century.

The authors urge a shift in focus from negotiation to implementation.

They propose rethinking the structure of COP meetings to prioritise action and accountability. Smaller, more frequent gatherings could replace the protracted negotiations, allowing countries to report on progress and make adjustments based on the latest science.

 Stronger mechanisms for transparency and independent oversight are seen as essential to ensure countries deliver on their commitments.

Concerns about the influence of fossil fuel lobbyists are also raised. At last year’s COP28, fossil fuel representatives outnumbered delegates from vulnerable nations and scientific institutions. The letter calls for stricter rules to manage corporate interests and ensure they align with climate goals.

The selection of host countries has emerged as another contentious issue. This year’s COP29, hosted by Azerbaijan, has drawn criticism after the country’s president, Ilham Aliyev, defended plans to expand gas production, calling fossil fuels a “gift from God.”

Recent allegations that Azerbaijani officials used COP events to pursue fossil fuel deals have further eroded trust.