By Eleonore Dlugosz Donnen
Discover the absent and the present states of COP29. Find out why some key states were absent. Find out what states performed the best! It is easy to remember a good speech, but absences from conferences such as COP often speak volumes. Organised in Baku, Azerbaijan, COP29 was billed as the “conference of finance”, and many states would have potentially benefited from the negotiations... but were they even there? Some states may be eloquent by their absence, but those present are just as important, standing out from the crowd. They were at COP29, and we remember them, but what for?
Absent
Argentina
On the orders of Javier Milei, the delegation of technocrats sent to Baku was finally recalled on 13 November after only a few days at the conference. The Argentinian president is a confirmed climate-sceptic, and he once again honoured his friendship with Trump. More than a gesture and proof of friendship to the American president, according to the Argentinian newspaper Clarin. It is a dig at the French president Macron. During his diplomatic tour of Latin America, he was due to arrive in Buenos Aires shortly after Argentina's withdrawal from COP29. A provocative message to the world climate leader. After abolishing the Ministry for the Environment, only technical representatives from the climate undersecretariat were sent to the COP. A missed opportunity for Argentina, which could have benefited from a great deal of financial support. Add to this a recent report on climate from the World Bank, which estimated that if the natural accidents that Argentina has suffered were to be repeated, the country would lose GDP by up to 4% annually, between now and 2050. The Director of the Environment and Natural Resources Foundation describes the Argentine President's decision as unprecedented...As part of two negotiating groups, G77+China and the Southern Group. The countries were surprised by this immediate withdrawal, even though, according to sources of La Nacion, Argentina had less than symbolic participation in the summit.
“We have orders from the foreign minister not to participate any more, that’s all I can say,” Secretary for environment, Ana Lamas.
France
Although France has long been an advocate of climate change, the country's president and ecology minister were also absent. The agenda for COP29 had been planned for a long time, but it was the statements by the Azeri president siding with New Caledonia and accusing France of committing crimes in its overseas territories that were the cause. This criticism of France as a colonial state caused the minister to cancel her visit and that the president would not be honouring COP29 with his presence either. This precedent between France and Azerbaijan is not new and is undoubtedly the result of France's pro-Armenian stance at a time when tensions over Nagorno Karabakh are still high. Despite the diplomatic problems encountered en route to COP29, France nevertheless sent a team of negotiators to defend climate interests. This absence has tarnished the reputation of the country even though it is the place where the Paris agreements, one of the most relevant agreements on climate, were signed. COP29, a COP without France's leadership.
“The comments made by President [Ilham] Aliyev at the opening of Cop29 in Baku against France and Europe are unacceptable.” Agnes Pannier-Runacher, France’s minister for ecology.
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea's absence had been warned by its Foreign Minister. He had specified that there was no point in travelling by plane if the discussions were going to be hampered by jetlag. For the minister, it is a waste of time. Tired of the pro-climate rhetoric of the polluting states, he claimed that Papua New Guinea was the third largest rainforest nation in the world, emphasising that it was this forest that was absorbing the consequences of pollution. Other countries in the Pacific bloc supported him. For example, he talked of current negotiations with island states such as Singapore, which he describes as ‘like-minded’ countries.
“Our non-attendance this year will signal our protest at the big nations – these industrialised nations who are big carbon footprint holders for their lack of quick support to those who are victims of climate change and those of us who are forest and ocean nations.” Papua New Guinea's foreign minister, Justin Tkatchenko.
Present
Albania
Albania could make its voice heard thanks to a powerful speech by Prime Minister Edi Rama. Deploring the leaders' inaction in the face of his climate, he said he had changed the content of his speech at the last minute when he discovered the luxury leaders' lounge filled with plants on top of comfortable sofas, a metaphor of what COP truly are. As well as underlining his commitment to the environment, Minister Kumbaro himself emphasised Albania's status as a low-pollution country, with proof of this in the fact that Albania generates 100% of its electricity from renewable sources.
‘Albania will participate in all renewable energy panels to showcase its best practices. Based on this strategy, the country has shifted from hydro-based energy to solar and wind power. Our experience will be shared in panels organised by partner countries and organisations like the World Bank”, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Belinda Balluku.
Brazil
Despite the absence of President Lula due to a head injury, Brazil was one of the three countries that sent the most delegates, along with Azerbaijan and Turkey. Brazil had to be present more than ever and show its commitment because it will be hosting COP30. In the spotlight during the conference, Brazil announced in the COP its new target aims to reduce emissions by 59 to 67% by 2035. Lula is determined to make Brazil an example of leadership on climate issues, an initiative warmly welcomed by UN climate chief Simon Stiel.
‘This commitment will allow Brazil to move towards climate neutrality by 2050, the long-term objective of the climate commitment,’ Brazil’s government said in a statement.
UK
The United Kingdom also found itself in the spotlight, and France's absence may have enabled the former European Union country to assert its leadership further. The UK has announced major ambitions for its climate goals, with a reduction in emissions of 81% by 2035. This was announced by the Prime Minister himself on the first day of the World Leaders Summit at COP, a major step forward that will enable the Prime Minister to make his mark and establish the UK as a clean energy powerhouse.
‘By acting decisively and early, the UK has an opportunity to lead the world in the future industries - working in partnership with businesses - creating real energy security, cutting energy bills and building jobs and supply chains in the UK. ‘Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Conclusion
This COP29 in Azerbaijan has been the scene of many statements by those who were not present. Expressing a rise in climate scepticism, such as for the Argentinian President, or the strengthening of alliances between the United States and Argentina. COP29 was also marked by diplomatic tensions between France and Azerbaijan. This is an example of climate change taking second place in the political agenda. Finally, some states no longer believe in the effectiveness of these conferences and see no problem in withdrawing completely from negotiations because the results are disappointing, like Papua New Guinea. These three states, therefore, offer us three different messages revealing the trends in the behaviour of states when it comes to the climate. The states present were able to demonstrate their credibility and prove their commitment to the climate cause, and it seems that the absences of some of them even led to great ambitions, as in the case of the UK, which was able to take the lead as the European superpower for the environment.
Written by Eleonore Dlugosz Donnen, November 2024
Edited by Roos Hoogesteger
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