COP29: The world awaits real climate progress

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OPINION

By Steven Mwandha

As the world prepares for COP29 in 2024, the need for concrete action in the fight against climate change has never been more urgent.

During COP28, Dubai International Airport saw a sharp rise in air traffic, fuelled by both commercial and private jets carrying high-profile attendees. This increase contributed to what many called the largest carbon footprint in the history of climate summits.

The heavy use of private jets starkly contrasted with the conference's focus on reducing emissions, raising concerns about the environmental impact of the event. Critics highlighted the irony of discussing climate action while relying on carbon-intensive travel methods.

Anyhow, COP28, resulted in several key agreements, many promises remain unfulfilled. COP29, the next UN Climate Change Conference, is expected to push for stronger commitments and faster implementation.

A major issue on the agenda at COP29 will be climate finance. At previous conferences, wealthy nations pledged to provide $100 billion annually to help developing countries address climate change. However, much of this funding has not been delivered. COP28 highlighted the need to scale up financial support, but developing countries are still waiting for these commitments to be realized.

At COP29, expectations are high that wealthier nations will face increased pressure to fulfil their financial promises. There is growing demand for greater transparency and timely delivery of the pledged funds to support climate action in vulnerable regions.

While reducing emissions has been the primary focus of past conferences, COP29 is likely to emphasize adaptation strategies. Many countries, particularly those in the Global South, are already feeling the harsh impacts of climate change—rising sea levels, more frequent extreme weather events, and ongoing natural disasters.

Uganda is one such country bearing the brunt of climate change. With a largely agrarian economy, Ugandan farmers are particularly vulnerable to shifting weather patterns. Prolonged droughts, erratic rainfall, and floods are becoming more frequent, severely affecting crop yields.

Staples such as maize and beans, as well as cash crops like coffee, are under increasing threat. Lake Victoria, which supports millions of people through fishing and agriculture, is also being affected by rising temperatures and water stress. This leads to food insecurity, loss of income, and increased poverty in rural communities.

In particular, agriculture is feeling the global effects of climate change. Countries like Brazil, one of the world’s largest coffee producers, are witnessing the devastating impacts of rising temperatures on their crops. Coffee, highly sensitive to climate fluctuations, is struggling as the traditional growing regions in Brazil face hotter, drier conditions. This has led to reduced yields and threatens the livelihoods of millions of farmers dependent on coffee production.

In response, COP29 is expected to push for greater financial assistance and support for adaptation measures. This includes helping vulnerable nations like Uganda and industries like agriculture build resilience to the changing climate and cope with its devastating effects.

Another critical aspect of COP29 will be the Global Stocktake (GST), a comprehensive evaluation of global progress toward meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement. Launched at COP28, the GST will play a key role in determining whether nations are on track to limit global warming to 1.5°C.

At COP29, countries will likely face scrutiny over their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and may be urged to revise their climate pledges to meet emission reduction targets. With the climate crisis accelerating, more ambitious actions are expected from governments worldwide.

One of COP28’s major achievements was the creation of the Loss and Damage Fund, designed to assist vulnerable nations in recovering from the irreversible impacts of climate change. However, while the fund was agreed upon, it has yet to be fully operationalized.

COP29 will focus on finalizing the details of the fund’s financing and administration, ensuring that the most affected countries and sectors, like agriculture, can start receiving the financial assistance they urgently need.

Although COP28 resulted in significant agreements, progress has been slow. The Loss and Damage Fund still lacks sufficient financial support, and many nations are falling short of their emission reduction targets. As climate impacts worsen, the gap between commitments and action is widening.

COP29 presents a crucial opportunity to bridge this gap. With the stakes higher than ever, world leaders are expected to push for faster, more ambitious climate action to prevent catastrophic global warming.

The world will be watching.

The writer is an environment, social and governance enthusiast