The road to COP 29 is paved with both hope and urgency. As the world converges in Azerbaijan to continue the fight against climate change, the stakes have never been higher. From the warnings of leading scientists to the impassioned demands of the younger generation, the messages have been consistent: climate action is no longer an option; it’s a necessity.
The Conference of the Parties, or COP, has a long history that stretches back to the 1990s. Established under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), COP has served as the world’s foremost platform for negotiating international climate agreements. COP 3 in Kyoto produced the groundbreaking Kyoto Protocol in 1997, which for the first time legally bound developed nations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Then came COP 21 in Paris, where the landmark Paris Agreement was reached in 2015, setting a global target to limit warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. It was a moment of optimism, but also a turning point that revealed the scale of the work still required.
Since then, subsequent COPs have oscillated between progress and frustration. COP 26 in Glasgow marked a renewed urgency, as nations pledged to “phase down” coal use and increase funding for adaptation, though the lack of binding commitments left many feeling underwhelmed. COP 28, hosted in Dubai, saw promising agreements, like expanded financial commitments for climate resilience and a broader coalition against methane emissions. However, progress remains incremental, and the gap between promises and tangible outcomes is still too wide.
The Elders, a collective of global leaders founded by Nelson Mandela, have been vocal in their demands leading up to COP 29. Their recent statements call for urgent, tangible action, urging governments and corporations alike to prioritize climate justice and the welfare of future generations. The Elders’ call is not just for policymakers but for all of us—an intergenerational appeal to listen and respond before it’s too late. They remind us that bold commitments made at COP 28 must now be realized. The time for empty promises is over; what we need is a clear, implementable plan.
COP 29 offers a unique opportunity to address not only the promises left unfinished but also to incorporate emerging priorities such as loss and damage funding, adaptation support for the most vulnerable nations, and the phasing out of fossil fuels. The achievements of past COPs should not be forgotten; they laid the groundwork for international cooperation, established critical mechanisms like carbon trading, and created funds for adaptation and mitigation. But COP 29 must go beyond groundwork—it must provide the foundation for immediate action and accountability.
Young people around the world have been calling for action, not words—a sentiment echoed in the recent intergenerational dialogue initiated by The Elders. The message is clear: we are tired of delayed promises and want tangible progress that we can see, feel, and measure. With voices from different generations demanding change, COP 29 must serve as a venue to cement this momentum into policies that can create a just and sustainable future for everyone.
The focus of COP 29 should also be on the social justice dimensions of climate action. From the perspectives of Indigenous peoples, who are on the frontlines of protecting vital ecosystems, to low-income communities disproportionately affected by environmental degradation, the need for a just transition has become undeniable. Climate action that does not consider equity and fairness will ultimately fail, as it risks alienating those most affected by climate change. A genuine commitment to climate justice means addressing the uneven burdens of environmental crises and ensuring that marginalized voices are not only heard but also prioritized in climate action planning.
However, it’s not just about what happens at the negotiating table in Azerbaijan. Success will depend on our ability to bridge the gap between the pledges made and the actions taken in every corner of the world—from local communities embracing renewable energy projects to multinational corporations committing to carbon neutrality and accountability. COP 29 should be the moment we look back on as the turning point, the one where we turned rhetoric into reality.
As we look ahead, one cannot help but feel both hope and anxiety. Hope because the voices demanding action have become louder and impossible to ignore, anxiety because the clock is ticking, and every delay makes the challenge steeper. But COP 29 represents a chance to move beyond these mixed emotions into a future defined by action. It’s time for our leaders to demonstrate true leadership by putting forth policies that bring together economic resilience, environmental sustainability, and social justice.
For those of us watching from afar, it’s easy to feel disconnected from the negotiations. Yet, the decisions made here affect us all, regardless of where we live. It’s crucial to continue to hold our leaders accountable long after the conference ends. We must remind them that what matters is not the eloquence of their speeches but the impact of their actions on the climate—on our shared future.