This year’s COP29 climate summit, set to begin on Nov. 11 in Baku, Azerbaijan, will see reduced attendance from major world leaders, including those from the United States, European Union, and Brazil. With key figures like U.S. President Joe Biden and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen absent, questions loom over the summit’s potential to drive new climate commitments.
Political Schedules And Health Issues Behind Absences
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will not attend the summit due to ongoing political developments in Brussels. Her spokesperson explained that the focus is on EU leadership transitions as new Commission members prepare for their roles. Similarly, President Joe Biden will be absent due to the timing of the COP29 summit, which begins just days after the U.S. presidential election. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has also cancelled his plans to attend after sustaining a head injury last month.
Concerns Over U.S. Election And Global Climate Funding
The upcoming U.S. election casts uncertainty over COP29, with climate diplomats noting the impact of a potential Trump victory on global climate funding. As a candidate, Trump has signalled a shift away from climate agreements, which could limit COP29’s effectiveness in securing higher CO2-cutting funds from international governments.
Climate expert Li Shuo from the Asia Society Policy Institute believes that while high-level attendance is beneficial, tangible commitments are what ultimately drive progress. “Leadership is vital, but actions and commitments to fund climate initiatives matter most,” he said.
COP29’s Agenda and Overlapping G20 Summit
The COP29 summit aims to negotiate substantial increases in global climate funding as nearly 200 countries convene. However, notable leaders from China, Japan, Australia, and Mexico are also missing from the U.N. agenda, raising concerns about the scale of participation. Representing the European Union will be European Council President Charles Michel and the EU’s climate policy chief, Wopke Hoekstra.
Following COP29, many of these leaders will gather at the G20 summit in Brazil on Nov. 18-19, where climate financing will also be a focal point. The overlap in timing highlights the balancing act leaders face in addressing climate goals amid competing global events.
(With Inputs from Reuters)
