COP29: Why ActionAidUK are there, and what we’re trying to achieve
14 November 2024
COP29 has brought together leaders and NGOs from around the world in Baku, Azerbaijan to address the climate crisis, explore solutions, and discuss ways to support those most affected.
ActionAid UK has established a presence at the event, advocating for support for those on the frontlines of the climate crisis, amplifying the call for increased climate finance. So what are we asking for? And why is this issue so important? Here are some of the key points we are hoping to raise throughout the conference.
Provide climate finance
The UK has re-committed to delivering £11.6 billion in climate finance – an essential lifeline for communities on the frontlines of climate devastation – which is news that we welcome. But we should be clear, simply fulfilling the last government’s old bare minimum commitments is not enough. At COP29, we are urging the UK Government to raise the bar by sourcing much-needed public finance, including from innovative sources such as carbon taxes on the wealthy, and upscaling critical funding to frontline women climate leaders, especially as other countries scale back on climate action. As the US exits the stage, the UK must finally step up, cough up, and pay its climate debts to those enduring the worst of a crisis they did little to cause.
Enabling adaptation and addressing Loss and Damage
The new government has a lot of work to do to repair the historical climate damage the UK has wrought upon Global Majority communities. The UK has so far made positive statements to move forward negotiations on Adaptation finance, but it also needs to step up for Loss and Damage finance. We also need to see new and additional pledges to the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damages - while we see countries and people across the world ravaged by climate-induced disasters and global temperatures continuing to rise and recur, a one-off minimal donation is simply not enough.
Redirecting funding away from the problem and towards the solutions
At COP29, the UK Government made an announcement about the new Global Clean Power Alliance it has established, this shows the new government taking important steps towards climate leadership. However, we’re also raising concern over plans for costly carbon capture and storage initiatives —a flawed solution that allows the fossil fuel industry to continue while diverting precious resources away from renewables. In addition, the UK government continues to funnel over £5bn in public subsidies into fossil fuels, exacerbating the climate crisis.
At COP, we’re urging the UK to immediately drop fossil fuel subsidies, and redirect funds towards addressing Loss and Damage and to invest in renewable energy sources like wind.