he annual Conference of Parties under the UNFCCC are more than scientific, technical or environmental activist gatherings; they are arenas where climate action collides with global geopolitics. These summits reveal the fault lines between industrialised and developing nations; the manoeuvring of fossil fuel-dependent economies; and the shifting dynamics of global leadership. At COP29, these geopolitical tensions were on full display, shaping outcomes as much as — if not more than — the science of climate change.

COP29, held in Baku, Azerbaijan, came at a critical juncture. The world faces escalating climate impacts, growing calls for climate justice and deep divisions over responsibility and financing. Despite broad acknowledgment of the climate emergency, the negotiations were marked by intense disagreements, particularly on issues of climate finance and the transition away from fossil fuels. It was a stark reminder that while science can highlight the urgency of action, it is diplomacy that ultimately determines progress — or the lack thereof.

Adding to the challenges was the lingering shadow of Donald Trump’s anticipated withdrawal from the Paris Agreement. The consequences of the US departure from multilateralism during Trump’s previous presidency continue to resonate. It eroded trust in collective global action; emboldened fossil-fuel-producing nations; and raised concerns about the rise of right-leaning governments deprioritising climate action. Germany, for instance, faces the possibility of snap elections next year, with projections suggesting that the new government may be less inclined towards ambitious climate commitments.

This trend created a dual effect at COP29. On one hand, it deepened existing divisions between developed and........

© The News on Sunday