Scottish delegation in Azerbaijan as COP29 summit gets under way
SCIAF's director of public relations tells us the atmosphere is "a lot more subdued" than it was at COP26 in Glasgow three years ago
The 29th UN Climate Change Conference opened in Baku, Azerbaijan today, with world leaders discussing climate finance as a top priority.
Dr Ben Wilson, director of public engagement at SCIAF - the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund - is at the conference. He says the atmosphere is "a lot more subdued" than it was at COP26 in Glasgow 3 years ago.
He told Clyde 1: “At COP26 in Glasgow I think there was a lot of hope in our ability to tackle the climate crisis, but with what has just happened in America, the collapse of the government in Germany, and actually a number of big international leaders not coming to COP29, I think there is a lot of pessimism going into the start of this conference.”
Dr Wilson said: “Since the result of the US election last week and with Donald Trump coming in committed to bringing the US out of international agreements on climate change, I think there is a real opportunity for countries like the UK to step up”.
The SCIAF director is “really pleased” that the Scottish Government have sent a delegation to the climate conference. “They don’t have a formal role in the negotiations, but nevertheless, the Scottish Government does still have a big role to play”.
Referring to the controversial decision to scrap climate targets earlier this year as “embarrassing”, Dr Ben Wilson thinks that the Scottish Government’s presence at COP29 sends a “message that Scotland is going to learn from those mistakes that have led to so many years of failed targets and finally get their act together.”
"Disappointment" that First Minister won't be attending
Nevertheless, he expressed disappointment that the FM John Swinney will not be attending this year – the first time Scotland’s First Minister has missed the global event since 2019.
As SCIAF works to end poverty in the world's poorest places, the Scottish organisation is attending the conference to “tackle the climate crisis in the name of future generations, but also in the name of the poorest people in the world who are already suffering from climate impacts”.
A key issue at COP29 is climate finance, which Dr Wilson argues would “help developing countries to grow low-carbon economies adapt to the impacts of climate change”.
Many climate activists and countries in the Global South are urging world leaders to agree on an annual $1 trillion climate finance target at this year’s climate conference.
Dr Wilson says: “These numbers seem astronomical, but it’s really important to remember that the cost of inaction on climate change is even higher.”
Reflecting on the devastating impacts of recent flooding in Spain and central Europe, hurricanes in the Caribbean, and draughts across sub-Saharan Africa, he urges world leaders to take action now by investing in renewable energy and adaptations to climate change.
COP29 negotiations are expected to come to a close on Friday, 22 Nov 2024.