?? COP29: Does it Really Make a Difference? ??

Yes Mathias, I believe COP29 make a difference and an example of that is you... You being there and experiencing for the first time by yourself how governments (and society) are discussing how to effectively face and decelerate global warming. So it shows that the Chief sustainability officer of one of the biggest companies of Germany with global impact is interested to participate too and to reflect how to contribute to the below 2C goal that were planned for governments but that require too the contribution of corporations to reach the goal. So yes, this makes a difference, the participation of such leaders which can design and adjust the corporate sustainability strategy to go beyond setting the goals, and set the path (an ambitious one) towards the reduction of emissions.

Hi Matthias. Intriguing question you are raising. While I concur and agree with your general view that “we can indeed make a significant impact on the climate, collectively”, the track-record of COPs could be better. But I guess it is not so much the conferences that are not delivering, it is more that it is simply very hard to find solutions given so many diverting interests despite the common goal. While this may be frustrating it needs to be taken seriously. Climate change is closely interlinked with economic prosperity and development aspirations, with geostrategic influence. Transition has also many aspects of global security. Nations that are e. g. well off in the fossil industry need a tangible and realistic transition path that works for their societies (…). One thing is for sure, mankind needs to meet through representatives, problems need to be analysed and understood, experts need to be heard, pragmatic solutions need to be found and applied. That needs to happen with respect and openness. Whether COPs in the long run are the way I do not know. P.S. I was recently at an energy conference where more than one expert claimed that whilst AI can help with many problems it will consume more energy than it saves !?

Does it make a difference in what? What are the expectations set for creation of new solutions, ideas, new policy, collaboration, etc. You mention meaningful dialogues, well we've heard about these in the past and those seem to have led to little positive action, therefore people would assume those dialogues have poor value. As an opportunity for leaders, both political and business, to come together and hopefully listen to each other and learn something, this has the potential for great value. This interaction is critical on topics which truly effect the entire world. I would put forth that after 28 of these meetings, the popular narrative is overwhelmingly negative with regards to climate change and people see this as a result of no real substantial progress from COP meetings. While we can say that without these meeting we would be in a worse spot, it is also possible to say that government-business collaboration or cross industry solutions should be far more advanced after almost 30 years.

Upon reviewing the history of all 29 COPs, it is evident that the participation of developed countries often reflects hypocrisy. While they make modest commitments, there is a frequent failure to translate these commitments into tangible actions. This pattern has led to unrealistic solutions and a lack of genuine progress. COP29, like its predecessors, appears to be a missed opportunity. Instead of fostering agreements that would effectively curb emissions, it often results in granting developing countries more leeway to emit. Additionally, COPs start shifting the responsibility for climate change onto oil and gas producers in developing countries. This dynamic places an unfair burden on developing countries which are already facing significant challenges. The controlled manipulation of research outcomes to support ineffective practices for climate change that ultimately harm our planet is another concern. Perhaps it would be more beneficial for delegates to reconsider the necessity of the annual COP gatherings, which often contribute to increased emissions and waste generation in host nations. COPs are a significant factor in the Earth's losing battle against climate change.

At this year's #COP29 #Azerbaijan that is right now taking place in #Baku, Azeri dictator Ilham Aliyev kicked off the climate conference with a wide-ranging speech in which he hailed oil & gas as "gifts from God" as well as lashed out at climate activists and critics of #Azerbaijan's fossil fuel industries. Even though United Nations Secretary General António Guterres immediately took to the stage, attempting to do some (not very successful) damage control by hysterically saying that "doubling down on fossil fuels would be an absurd strategy", Azeri strongman remained completely unfettered, as he continued singing praise to fossil fuels by adding that "countries should not be blamed for having them, and should not be blamed for bringing these resources to the market, because the market needs them. The people need them." #Aliyev's hypocrisy should come as no surprise since the Azeri government relies on fossil fuels (oil and natural gas) to the extent that they represent approximately 60% of its entire national budget and around 90% of the total revenue from the country's exports. https://lnkd.in/dJJ2B86m