With the political difficulties of COP29 in Azerbaijan still fresh, and Brazil now facing challenges in Belem for the ongoing COP30, there are existential questions about whether the format of talks can still deliver meaningful progress for the planet.
After years covering climate negotiations on the ground in Glasgow, Sharm el-Sheikh, Dubai and Baku, I’ve seen these talks blend diplomacy, spectacle and frustration. It’s easier to be cynical than hopeful, but there are many signs of a process that is becoming more unwieldy year on year.
ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT OF AN ENVIRONMENT SUMMIT
For one, there is an unfortunate irony in the environmental footprint of a conference devoted to saving the planet.
Brazil, now the stewards of global climate action for the next year, wanted to bring decision-makers to the front lines of the planetary crisis. Doing this has been a logistical nightmare.
The moving roadshow of climate negotiations – these days featuring tens of thousands of financiers, lobbyists, think tank representatives and activists – has descended upon the Amazon rainforest. There are real concerns about difficult travel plans and exorbitant expenses for attendees.
Many delegations have cut their numbers to fit the limited accommodation, with cruise ships and even “love hotels” pressed into service. Some rental prices were reported to have inflated by nearly 10,000 per cent over the summit period. The Associated Press found an apartment for eight people in an upscale neighbourhood of Belem that cost US$446,595 for a two-week stay.
Again, the voices of the poorest and most desperately affected by climate change are blocked from access due to the high costs.