COP29: Climate Researchers View Summit Critically - Government Emphasizes Small Progress

The Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) is disappointed with the climate summit in Baku and suggests smaller negotiation rounds. "The climate summit in Baku was not a success, but at most the avoidance of a diplomatic disaster," said PIK director Ottmar Edenhofer after the end of the so-called COP. The world climate conference in Azerbaijan agreed on a new financial target for climate aid to poorer countries—300 billion US dollars a year by 2035—while no progress was made on climate protection. However, this is not nearly enough, say the poorer countries. 

"It is now abundantly clear that we need complementary negotiation formats for the global fight against the climate crisis. For progress to occur, not necessarily all nearly 200 signatory states to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change need to be at the table," said PIEK head Edenhofer.

He called on the donor countries of the affluent global North to mobilize money for poorer countries through the pricing of oil, coal, and gas. Ideally, the money should only flow if the recipient country demonstrably reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

PIK Director Rockström: Financial target will fail

The world climate conference in Azerbaijan agreed on a new financial target for climate aid to poorer countries—300 billion US dollars a year by 2035—while no progress was made on climate protection. Co-PIK Director Johan Rockström does not expect that the set financial target will be achieved.

"Too little, too late, from too many sources," said Rockström. "To tackle the climate crisis, we need to steer the entire global economy away from fossil fuel-based growth. Private financing is necessary, significantly beyond the critical public climate financing."

The German government, given the disappointing results for many from the world climate conference, has also highlighted the positive aspects.

"The results from Baku are no cause for celebration, as the progress is too small," said Development Minister Svenja Schulze (SPD). But: "In the future, more allies than before will take responsibility. Because what was an obligation of a small group of classic industrialized countries is now becoming a joint global task to which more countries will contribute. This is an important signal."