Last call for the planet
As COP29 opens in oil-rich and dictatorial Azerbaijan, western media are focused on one major obstacle to these talks: Donald Trump. In real life, however, activists are still at work. Insight.
Dear readers,
After a very heavy week monitoring the US elections overnight, we’re now entering the key week of the start of the last UN negotiations on the climate emergency of this catastrophique year…
Here are a few points, from our international newsroom, RFI.
Climate summit in Azerbaijan criticised over fossil fuel influence
UN climate summits are at risk of “undue corporate influence" and "fossil fuel industry capture”, two corruption watchdogs warned, as oil and gas producer Azerbaijan prepares to host the Cop29 in November.
Issued on: 01/11/2024
By: RFI
Azerbaijan’s role as host marks the second consecutive year a country heavily reliant on fossil fuels will hold the world’s most prominent climate talks.
According to a report published by Transparency International and the Anti-Corruption Data Collective, Azerbaijan's fossil fuel interests, entrenched levels of corruption and autocratic government put the UN-led climate process at risk.
The report emphasised that this risk isn’t unique to Azerbaijan, citing past and future Cop hosts with similarly strong fossil fuel ties.
"This report finds that in its current form, Cop – as the main global forum for setting the climate policy agenda – is at risk of being undermined by undue corporate influence and fossil fuel industry capture," the report said.
"Corruption and kleptocracy, too, threaten the integrity of climate conferences, including the upcoming Cop29 in Baku, Azerbaijan."
Read on from here: https://www.rfi.fr/en/environment/20241101-climate-summit-in-azerbaijan-criticised-over-fossil-fuel-influence
Wild weather and record heat as 2024 set to breach 1.5C warming milestone
This year is "virtually certain" to be the hottest in recorded history with warming above 1.5C, EU climate monitor Copernicus said Thursday, days before nations are due to gather for crunch UN climate talks.
Issued on: 07/11/2024
By: RFI
The European agency said the world was passing a "new milestone" of temperature records that should serve to accelerate action to cut planet-heating emissions at the UN negotiations in Azerbaijan next week.
Last month, marked by deadly flooding in Spain and Hurricane Milton in the United States, was the second hottest October on record, with average global temperatures second only to the same period in 2023.
Copernicus said 2024 would likely be more than 1.55 degrees Celsius above the 1850-1900 average – the period before the industrial-scale burning of fossil fuels.
This does not amount to a breach of the Paris deal, which strives to limit global warming to below 2C and preferably 1.5C, because that is measured over decades and not individual years.
"It is now virtually certain that 2024 will be the warmest year on record and the first year of more than 1.5C above pre-industrial levels," said Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) deputy director Samantha Burgess.
"This marks a new milestone in global temperature records and should serve as a catalyst to raise ambition for the upcoming Climate Change Conference, Cop29."
The whole article here: https://www.rfi.fr/en/environment/20241107-wild-weather-and-record-heat-as-2024-set-to-breach-1-5c-warming-milestone
Meanwhile, in the whole of Europe, the US election results are still on most leaders’ minds…
How can we lead talks, on the climate, on arms deals, on peace-building, with a leader who shows disdain for people’s rights, human rights, and the reality of the climate crisis and global warming?
Here is one of our latest articles:
Macron urges European leaders to 'write our own history' at joint summit
French President Emmanuel Macron urged fellow European leaders to rise to "a decisive moment" after Donald Trump's re-election as US president, as some 50 figures from across the continent met in Budapest on Thursday to discuss global trade, migration and security.
Issued on: 07/11/2024
As for me, I follow the consequences of such failures for the Global South.
I’ve interviewed a biodiversity, food and climate expert, former leader at the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), and members of NGOs working on the ground.
A new podcast episode will be out on Friday, on these issues:
Spotlight on Africa
An in-depth look at an important story affecting the African continent today.
In the meantimes, my latest:
Biodiversity
With little progress at Cop16 biodiversity summit, Africa demands more action
Home to diverse ecosystems like primary forests, peatlands and mangroves, Africa nevertheless faces severe biodiversity degradation. Despite the recent Cop16 conference in Colombia offering limited progress for protecting Africa's flora and fauna, analysts hope future efforts will address the continent's environmental concerns more effectively.
Issued on: 05/11/2024
By: Melissa Chemam
Africa is one of the world's richest regions in terms of biodiversity, but evidence has shown that these natural reserves are degrading significantly – which is bad news for the continent.
Most analysts admit that not enough came out of Cop16 – held in Cali, Columbia last month – and hope to see biodiversity issues taken more seriously.
Africa is also home to one third of the world's biodiversity, harbouring eight of the 34 critical biodiversity reserves listed by the NGO Conservation International.
But its biodiversity remains in grave danger.
The whole story here: https://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20241105-with-little-progress-at-cop16-biodiversity-summit-africa-demands-more-action
Before I end this post, a few links about climate change and conflicts:
Conflict and Climate - a UN report (2022)
The climate costs of war and militaries can no longer be ignored - Column (Jan. 2024)
The Gaza war is an environmental catastrophe - 972 Magazine (Sept. 2024)
Emissions from Israel’s war in Gaza have ‘immense’ effect on climate catastrophe - Guardian (Jan. 2024)
The Not-So-Hidden Climate Risks for Gaza's Displaced
If you share my worries or have interesting readings on these issues, send them my way.
I’m inundated with reflections on Trump, I’m done with them.
Please think of the rest of us: women, non-white people, Indigenous groups, LGBTIA people, workers, displaced people, real victims of the climate crisis, lower-income economies, people victims of discriminations…
And about solutions… I’ll get back to them in my podcast on African affairs.
Thanks for reading, and, if you can, for sharing.
My work will always be shared for free, I don’t aim for success, I aim for knowledge exchange, and to rebalance the mainstream information that is out there, forgetting about 6 out of the 9 billions of us on a daily basis…
All the best,
melissa
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Melissa Chemam
Journalist, Audio Producer & Writer
Blog: https://melissa-on-the-road.blogspot.com/
Website: https://sites.google.com/view/melissachemam
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@MelissaChemam