THE COP29 climate summit in Baku was rooted in controversy. Since Azerbaijan was chosen to host the event less than a year ago, accusations of greenwashing human-rights abuses and political incompetency have marked the conference’s countdown. Many seasoned COP observers told me last week that this year’s climate summit had become uniquely chaotic and frustrating: as a 19-year-old Anglican attending for the first time, I found it difficult to process.
A rocky start was inevitable, as the host country, a major fossil-fuel producer, was leading a summit dedicated to the contentious issue of providing climate finance for countries vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
By the time I landed in Baku on the first Friday, COP was already in an existential crisis. In opening remarks, President Aliyev of Azerbaijan described oil reserves as “a gift from God” and criticised “Western fake-news media and so-called independent NGOs and some politicians . . . competing in spreading disinformation and false information about our country”.
It marked the start of an event often defined by the post-truth populist pushback on progress made in the UAE last year. Saudi Arabia led an attempt to reverse last year’s commitment to phasing out oil and gas, and almost succeeded in delaying climate-mitigation negotiations until COP30 in Brazil — a danger narrowly averted by the diplomatic efforts of the UK and others. Rejuvenated by the election of Donald Trump to the American presidency a week before, fossil-fuel lobbyists controlled the headlines and momentum in Baku.
It was a dire situation to be in, and one that made a Christian message of hope all the more important. I was the youngest member of the Christian Climate Observers Program (CCOP), a non-denominational network of Christian environmentalists from across the world who gathered at the summit.
Besides meeting religious leaders — including the Anglican Communion’s representative to the UN, Martha Jarvis, and the Bishop of Panama, the Rt Revd Julio Murray — we participated in the Faith Pavilion: a hub for religious and spiritual activists at COP. Surrounded by the Pavilions of African and Pacific nations, who offered sobering warnings, and amid daily setbacks in the negotiating chambers, we came together with followers of other faiths to give a unified message of spiritual optimism. We must have faith in God’s intervention to save the planet, and turn our dread into righteous anger: I heard reference to the scripture of Jesus turning the tables of the temple moneychangers repeated here at least half a dozen times. For the American environmentalists in our team, it remains a tough sell.
Christian groups were not the only ones trying to maintain a constructive optimism at the talks. At a press conference at COP’s halfway point, the WWF’s Senior Adviser, Mark Lutes, told me that he was “cautiously optimistic” that national “red lines” on climate finance would be breached to reach an agreement. In the end, this proved correct; but it was not the wealthy nations that were forced to compromise.
There was an impressive effort to cultivate a green image in the host country, a sign, perhaps, that the government of Azerbaijan would not let the talks fail completely. Schools and universities were closed in Baku to boost the number of volunteers, of whom there were thousands. New cycle paths and bus lanes for free shuttle buses had been painted across the city just weeks before the event.
The talks were rescued from total failure. But we saw the dismay of activists and political leaders when the centrepiece deal — $300 billion a year for climate finance for the developing world by 2035 — was announced. It falls far short of meeting even the most urgent needs of the most vulnerable. As Christian delegates, we are still grateful for the little progress that was made, and have hope for next year’s summit in the Brazilian city of Belém. But, for now, we are frustrated. True climate justice remains clouded by empty words and emptier promises.
Ned Remington was part of the CCOP delegation. He raised funds for his train journey to Baku with the support of the Dean and Chapter of Exeter Cathedral and the Bishop of Salisbury.