UN 
(SDGTALKING) – Simon Stiell, United Nations Executive Secretary for Climate Change, made an important appeal to world leaders at the opening of the COP29 UN Climate Change Conference, which kicked off today in Baku, Azerbaijan. Stiell thanked Dr. Sultan Al Jaber and the Presidency of the United Arab Emirates for their hard work and expressed his gratitude to President Babayev for hosting the conference.
In his speech, Stiell conveyed the importance of the fight against climate change by recalling a dramatic incident with his neighbor Florence. “Florence, 85 years old, is just one of the millions of climate victims who have lost their homes this year,” Stiell said, adding that her experience once again demonstrated the impact of global warming on individuals. As Florence struggles to stay strong for her family and community, she, like millions of people around the world, is looking for ways to get back on her feet in the face of adversity.
“The COP Process Exists to Protect Humanity from a Five-Degree Catastrophe”
Stiell said that the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change process has created a global responsibility to address the climate crisis. “Without this process, humanity would be on a fast track towards five degrees of global warming,” he said, emphasizing the importance of these negotiations. However, Stiell also pointed out that these negotiations should not be too far removed from the challenges faced by people like Florence.
Stiell emphasized the need to take concrete steps in the fight against climate change for the sustainability of the economic and social order and reminded that this crisis affects all the peoples of the world by asking: “Do you want to increase your grocery and energy bills? Do you risk losing your economic competitiveness? Do you want to further increase global instability?”
“A New Global Climate Finance Target Must Be Set”
Stiell emphasized the importance of setting a new global climate finance target on the agenda of COP29 and said, “If at least two-thirds of the world’s countries cannot afford to reduce emissions rapidly, every country will pay a huge price.” Stiell stated that climate finance is not just a means of aid, but a necessity for the benefit of each country.
“Let’s Bring International Carbon Markets to Life”
Stating that the completion of Article 6 is critical for the operationalization of international carbon markets in Baku, Stiell said that a solid roadmap should be established at COP29. In this context, he stated that progress must be made in emission reduction in order to achieve the COP targets in Dubai.
“Transition to Clean Energy Unstoppable”
Worldwide investments in clean energy and infrastructure are expected to reach two trillion dollars in 2024. This is almost double the investment in fossil fuels. Stiell emphasized that the transition to clean energy and climate resilience is an unstoppable process. “Our task is to accelerate this transition and ensure that all countries benefit,” he said.
“New Steps for Transparency and Accountability”
Stiell emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability within the framework of climate finance. He stated that the Biennial Transparency Reports to be published this year will more clearly reveal global progress and areas for improvement.
“With a Determined Look to the Future: We Must Work Together”
Stiell delivered a clear message to world leaders at COP29: “Stand up together and do our part.” Emphasizing that it is unacceptable to leave Baku without a solid outcome, Stiell said that all parties must show a strong will from the start to reach an agreement.
COP29 is seen as a historic turning point in the fight against the climate crisis. What kind of a road map the leaders will create and what concrete steps will be taken on behalf of the peoples of the world will be revealed at the end of this conference.
