Mentre il mondo si prepara alla COP30 in Brasile, parliamo con il presidente della COP29 Mukhtar Babayev di finanziamenti per il clima, divisioni politiche e di come trasformare le promesse in progressi.
00:00From our side, from COP29's side, from our partners, now we need to call to the countries to action, to implementation.
00:20Hello and welcome to Energy Frontiers, our new Euronews series exploring the global energy landscape.
00:27It was right here in Baku, Azerbaijan, that the COP29 UN Climate Change Conference was held late last year.
00:35And today, we're talking to COP29 President Mokhtar Babayev about the diplomatic challenges that lay ahead as we move towards COP30 in Brazil.
00:44To begin with, here's a quick overview of what's at stake.
00:49A decade since the Paris Agreement was signed and the road ahead is uncertain.
00:54In January 2025, U.S. President Trump withdrew from the climate deal again.
01:01And as Brazil prepares for COP30, developing countries want action, not promises.
01:07Poorer nations need more money to adapt to climate change and more money for low-carbon energy.
01:14Many voices are calling for an end to fossil fuel use and an end to deforestation.
01:20COP30 in November will be a fresh test of global ambition on climate change.
01:26And as the planet warms rapidly, the need for multilateral cooperation is higher than ever.
01:33I'm delighted to say that I'm joined in studio by Mokhtar Babayev, the President of COP29.
01:38Thank you so much for being here today.
01:40Thank you for your invitation.
01:41We've seen, of course, President Trump exit the U.S. from the Paris Agreement again.
01:46When it comes to the COP process, what impact, what bearing does this have?
01:51Our mission is to build a trust between the countries, between the parties, to be interconnected, to be the bridge between the countries.
01:59And in this case also we hope that the process, the climate process is multilateral process.
02:09We would like to see all countries to be the part of the discussions, of the negotiations, obligations.
02:17But to understand that each country possibly has own agenda, U.S. is a big emitter, the big player on the carbon market.
02:30And I think we respect the position of the United States.
02:35From the global north to the global south, countries have different ambitions, different resources, timelines and priorities.
02:42It's a fragmented landscape at present.
02:45Do you believe that leadership when it comes to climate change is somewhat rudderless at this point?
02:51It's not one country as the leader of the process.
02:53I think in different regions of the world, different continents, different countries take this leadership and continue this process.
03:02And we expected the continuation of the big interest of the renewable energy.
03:09Today is already visible. Today is already interesting for the private sector.
03:14We've got the U.S. and other producers pumping more oil than ever before.
03:19When we look at the Paris Agreement, have we lost sight of our goals and ambitions?
03:23Today, more and more countries now invested to the green and alternative energy than to fossil fuel.
03:37And I think the process will continue.
03:41For example, in Azerbaijan, we, together with our partners, we investing a lot to the green transition.
03:50But, you know, Azerbaijan is an oil and gas country.
03:54That's why I think the Paris Agreement is a very good framework for the countries to cooperate and develop this energy transition in the future.
04:09Famously, at COP29, in your speech, you said that the current policies are leading us down the road to ruin.
04:16And that certain countries who are suffering most at the hands of climate change needed less paperwork, less prayers, more compassion, more action.
04:25In terms of the unmissable opportunity that COP29 presented, what's been done since then?
04:31We agreed regarding the first time ever in the UN system, 300 billion of the contributions agreed to the at least 300 billion contributions.
04:41Dollars contributions to developing world, to developing countries, to assist them to move their economy to the alternative energy.
04:53Another one big decision in Baku, it was Article 6 rules agreement.
04:59And I think it is also big chance for the private sector, good conditions for the private sector to be involved in the process of the finance.
05:07At the same time, the loss and damage fund operationalization is also, we agreed all necessity frameworks and documents to start the funding already in 2025.
05:24Understanding that it's a continual process and focusing on the developing countries that you mentioned there,
05:30many left feeling frustrated, arguing that they didn't receive the funding, the financing needed for not only adaptation, but mitigation.
05:39How do you respond to those criticisms?
05:41You know, sometimes some skepticism we have from the different parties, but I think that, again,
05:47a very important decision made in Baku at COP29 give us a good fundament for the countries to collaborate.
05:57At the same time, now our mission is continuing, that now we push the countries to perform these promises, perform these obligations.
06:09That's why this year is very important.
06:13As you look to pass the baton to Brazil for COP30, what would your advice be?
06:20What must be prioritized?
06:22I think it's a very important and difficult time, and now the Brazilian team is under big pressure.
06:31Our focus is to very important process of the support of the least developed countries, small island development states and other developing countries.
06:44Because now it's a time for the developed world, for the global north, to demonstrate this leadership and to provide necessity contributions.
06:55I fully agree with you to demonstrate leadership, to provide the resources.
07:00But where is the accountability, not least for the promises made in Glasgow, in Dubai, in Baku, and through to Brazil?
07:08What mechanisms are in place to make sure that these things happen?
07:12I think the obligations of each country is to perform the agreement, to perform the pledges, to perform the obligations.
07:21And I think now from our side, from COP29's side, from our partners, now we need to call to the countries to action, to implementation.
07:34We hope that in Brazil we will have also good discussions, good outcomes, and we're trying to support the Brazilian team in all these preparations.
07:44We sadly have to leave our conversation there, but thank you so much for your time.
07:47Thank you, Tim.
07:49Well, that's a wrap of this episode, but join me again next time on Energy Frontiers.
