“World Leaders Missing from COP29 Climate Summit: What Does This Mean for the Future?”

Leaders from some of the world’s major economies, including the European Union, the United States, and Brazil, will not be attending the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, this month. The conference, scheduled to convene from November 11 to 22, is expected to host over 40,000 delegates.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will not be attending the summit in order to prepare for a second term in office. Instead, a team of negotiators, including energy commissioner Kadri Simson and climate commissioner Wopke Hoekstra, will represent the commission at the talks. This decision has raised concerns among climate specialists, with Shirley Matheson from WWF stating that the absence of von der Leyen raises serious questions about the international and European commitment to combating the climate crisis.

Similarly, U.S. President Joe Biden and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who had already canceled his trip due to a head injury, will also be absent from the conference. Climate diplomacy expert Li Shuo emphasized the importance of countries taking concrete actions to provide more funds for fighting climate change, stating that leadership and commitments are crucial.

Countries like Mexico, Australia, China, and Japan are also not listed in the most recent United Nations agenda for speeches by leaders at this year’s climate talks. Climate diplomats have expressed concerns that the potential reelection of Donald Trump, who withdrew the U.S. from the Paris Agreement during his previous term, could hinder efforts to reach a consensus on increased climate funding at COP29.

Greenpeace is advocating for a New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) at COP29, which would involve a significant increase in public financing for developing countries to address climate change mitigation, adaptation, and loss and damage. The goal also aims to hold major polluters, such as the fossil fuel industry, accountable for the environmental harm they have caused. The Group of 20 Summit, where the world’s leading economies discuss climate financing, will coincide with COP29 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from November 18 to 19, 2024.

In conclusion, the absence of key leaders at COP29 raises concerns about the commitment to addressing the climate crisis on a global scale. The focus now shifts to the actions and commitments that countries will bring to the table to ensure progress in the fight against climate change.