By Faridat Salifu
Civil society organisations have written off the 29th session of the Conference of Parties (COP29) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) as a failure.
The CSOs, which includeHealth of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) and Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), cited the conference’s shortcomings in addressing climate finance, emissions reductions, and the promotion of false solutions to pass their verdict.
At a media briefing held in Abuja, the organisations, led by HOMEF’s Executive Director, Nnimmo Bassey, criticized the outcomes of COP29, which took place from 10th to 24th November 2024 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Dubbed the “Finance COP,” the session raised hopes among vulnerable nations for meaningful climate finance.
However, the CSOs declared that these hopes were dashed by inadequate commitments and a lack of urgency in addressing pressing climate issues.
The CSOs highlighted the failure of COP29 to deliver ambitious and binding emissions reductions in line with the Paris Agreement targets.
They noted that 2024 has been the hottest year on record, with devastating weather events, underscoring the need for immediate action.
The principle of Common But Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR), which holds historically polluting nations accountable, was largely ignored, they said.
“The COP continues to sideline justice-based climate action, allowing rich nations to shirk their responsibilities while vulnerable countries bear the brunt of the crisis,” Bassey said.
The speaker expressed the urgent need for the Nigerian government to take a proactive stance in shaping the country’s climate change strategy, citing initiatives like the Green Deva Green City in Abuja.
While such projects are often promoted as environmental solutions, they risk creating exclusionary zones that limit access to opportunities, necessitating immediate reevaluation to foster broader societal participation in climate action.
The conversation also highlighted the importance of strengthening global climate movements through international cooperation, particularly by leveraging upcoming Brazilian climate events to unify diverse voices, including those from South America and indigenous communities.
This collaborative momentum aims to elevate global awareness and advocacy around climate issues, while associating economic discussions with environmental goals to ensure visibility within economic policy frameworks.
Hauwa Mustapha, Director at Tubali Development Initiative, emphasized the need for a more inclusive and actionable Just Transition Workplan at COP29, voicing concern that the initial draft overlooked key considerations such as workers’ skills, social protection, and justice in the transition process.
She expressed frustration at the slow progress of climate discussions, where critical issues like finance and gender remain unresolved.
Hauwa called for a more defined approach with clear timelines and measurable outcomes to end the cycle of inconclusive negotiations, stressing that meaningful climate action requires transparency and accountability in implementation.
She said by focusing on tangible results and effective allocation of resources, the goal must be to address the needs of vulnerable communities and combat climate change directly.
The CSOs referred to recent Emissions Gap Reports from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), which warn that current national commitments would result in global temperatures rising far above the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C target.
With a likely increase of over 3°C under current policies, the CSOs stressed that urgent, scientifically driven action is needed to avert catastrophic climate impacts.
Calling COP29 a “missed opportunity,” the organisations criticized the $300 billion finance package promised for 2035, as far short of the $1.3 trillion annual minimum required and significantly below civil society estimates of $5-8 trillion annually.
They warned that inflation could reduce the package’s real value to $175 billion by 2035 and that relying on loans could worsen the debt burden of vulnerable nations.
“Climate finance should not be about loans or conditionalities. The funds to address climate impacts are readily available if priorities shift from military spending and fossil fuel subsidies to genuine climate action,” said the CSOs, pointing out that rich nations spent $2.4 trillion on military expenditure in 2023.
The CSOs condemned COP29’s focus on carbon markets and other market-based mechanisms under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.
They argued that such approaches, including carbon offsets and geoengineering, allow polluters to continue harmful practices while exploiting vulnerable communities.
“Carbon markets perpetuate climate injustice and serve the interests of fossil fuel companies rather than addressing the root causes of climate change,” the statement read.
The organisations also warned against land grabs for carbon trading schemes, particularly in Africa, where countries like Nigeria are seeing forests and land turned over to carbon speculators.