COP29: As the Climate Crisis Intensifies, Trump and World Leaders Are Leaving the Stage

Global consensus on climate action is fragmenting, making it far harder to achieve urgent emissions reductions and to help developing countries invest in clean energy rather then fossil fuels. 

This fear prompted a group of climate experts this week to write to the UN, arguing that COP summits are “no longer fit for purpose”. 

“We need a shift from negotiation to implementation,” they wrote, arguing the process should be streamlined, with meetings held more frequently and more of a voice given to developing countries.

Even if the US cannot be relied upon for four years or longer the rest of the world needs to step up both emissions cuts and climate finance. That will mean working with a coalition of the willing.

“Science is clear that every action matters,” argues Katharine Hayhoe, chief scientist of the Nature Conservancy at Texas Tech University. “That’s why, despite the coming headwind, it’s more vital than ever to continue striving for a resilient future for people and nature. It’s not about saving the planet: it’s about saving us.” 

Read the full article by Mike Buckley in Byline Times.