The talks at COP29 ran 33 hours late, and came close to collapse. In the end richer countries pledged a record $300bn to help the developing world fight climate change, but the deal is facing recrimination that it comes nowhere near addressing poorer countries’ challenges from global warming. The New York Times (behind a paywall) wrote: ““Let me be crystal clear,” said Juan Carlos Monterrey, Panama’s special envoy for climate. “This process was chaotic, poorly managed, and a complete failure in terms of delivering the ambition required.” As the Guardian wrote: “The talks were high-stakes from the start, as they opened just days after Donald Trump won re-election as US president.” And the role of many of the fossil fuel states had a negative impact throughout the final hours. Annalena Baerbock, Germany’s foreign affairs minister told the Financial Times (behind a paywall) that: ”a few fossil fuel states were attempting a ‘geopolitical power play’ in Baku, where almost 200 countries are debating a new climate finance goal and how to make progress on the shift away from oil, gas and coal.” And at one point there was a walk-out: “We’ve not been offered a deal, we’ve been offered an insult,” said a member of the Barbados delegation, while walking out of the finance negotiations at the summit which had already overrun by more than a day. There is always tension at the end of such negotiations, but where is this getting us? Globally, we have a major crisis and we need everyone moving in the same direction. That seems unlikely, given the recent election in the US and the breakdown in constructive negotiations. This will be analysed at length over coming days, weeks and months. As we recommended last week, the IISD Earth Negotiations Bulletin offers detailed coverage and probably the most balanced news available.
At COP29, many delegations were giving away complimentary food and drink. For example, Australia provided complimentary coffee and the Azeris had free tea “from gleaming silver samovars”. Singapore had a different approach: free beer made from recycled toilet water. According to the New York Times (behind a paywall), delegates didn’t seem to mind. “A hoppy pilsner called NEWBrew that comes in pastel cans decorated with solar panels, rain clouds and cityscapes, the beer is part of a collaboration between a Singaporean company called Brewerkz and the country’s national water agency. The project is designed to draw attention to, and normalize, Singapore’s water reclamation efforts.” If any EiD reader tried it, please let us know your reaction.
In better understanding the linkages between climate change and music, Head of Charity Development Ruth McPherson at the Independent Society of Musicians (ISM) recommends 10 ways for musicians to reduce their climate impact.
In planning travel over the upcoming weeks, here is some useful ideas to help you along:
- Lonely Planet’s train expert provides his top 5 rail journeys in Europe for 2024.
- Forbes website describes 5 New European Trains: A Revolution In High-Speed & Night Trains. The European rail revolution continues, with new high-speed trains and new night train service between major cities [note, you are allowed 4 free viewings].
- National Geographic provides 6 of the best autumn hikes in Europe.
- For those who want to combine hiking with food and wine, check out the Hedonistic Hiking website.
Margaret Atwood (b. 1939), a Canadian novelist, poet, and literary critic, whose best known work is the 1985 dystopian novel, The Handmaid’s Tale, provides a valuable message as we try to address climate change: “We shouldn’t be saying ‘Save the planet’; we should be saying: ‘Save viable conditions in which people can live.’ That’s what we’re dealing with here.”
EiD welcomes your views about this week’s selection of posts on the zero-carbon energy transition:
- Introducing “Climate Impact Auctions”
- Blog by Steve Thorne: The Voluntary Carbon Markets (VCM) – what has been learned so far… and where is it heading?
- With the climate change crisis, how insurance companies set rates and coverage in the US
- “We cannot allow this mad denial of energy efficiency to become permanent government policy”
- “If you’ve ever seen yourself through a thermal imaging camera, you’ll know that your body produces lots of heat”
- “The EIB has integrated the energy efficiency first principle into its Energy Lending Policy”
- Understanding climate attribution analysis
- There is still greenwashing when it comes to carbon offsets
- Please send your comments on any of the posts. Please recommend EiD to your friends and colleagues.
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Energy in Demand - Sustainable Energy - Rod Janssen 