COP29: In absence of world's biggest polluters, 'more underrepresented nations have a bigger voice'

1 year ago

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00:00Well, after the United Arab Emirates in 2023, it is the second straight year that a petrostate

00:05is hosting a COP climate conference.

00:08And this year's summit in Azerbaijan really seems to be the straw that broke the camel's

00:12back for critics.

00:13In an open letter to the United Nations, a group of former leaders and climate experts

00:18argued that the annual global warming talks are no longer fit for purpose and need urgent

00:24reforms if they're to be taken seriously.

00:26Now, it's not only that they're being held in countries whose economies are heavily dependent

00:30on fossil fuels, but also that they're increasingly under the influence of fossil fuel lobbyists.

00:35And that has not prevented the presence of numerous developing nations, who of course

00:41are by and large disproportionately affected by the effects of climate change.

00:46Well, for more, youth delegate from Bermuda, Noelle Young, is our guest on the program

00:50today.

00:51She's attending COP29 in Baku.

00:53Noelle, thank you so much for joining us.

00:57Thank you so much for the invitation.

00:58So I want to put it bluntly in my first question to you, Noelle.

01:01Do you think that we're witnessing the final decline of the COP summits?

01:07In all honesty, no, I hope not.

01:09I really do.

01:11What I have seen this year from COP has been very positive.

01:15It's filling my heart with hope that at this point in time, they seem to actually be coming

01:19up with some new concepts, some new policies, and for example, some new terms.

01:24So a new term that is very specific to my island nation is a small, is a subnational

01:31island jurisdiction to essentially explain islands that are not small island developing

01:37nations did.

01:38So for me, in this case, this COP has been amazing.

01:43I don't want to dampen your optimism, Noelle, but a lot of what we're hearing here from

01:48reporters who are present at COP29 and also, of course, in opinion pieces that have been

01:52written, letters that have been published ahead of this conference is that they've actually

01:56thus far, I mean, of course, they're not over yet, but been quite inefficient that the delegates

02:01struggle to agree even on an agenda to run down.

02:05Do you hear some of the concerns from climate activists about these summits?

02:10Yes, I do.

02:12I hear the concerns, but I think that there's also a very big difference between the countries

02:17that are used to having quick processes that are not as effective as nations like myself

02:23who are greatly affected and are very used to these long processes.

02:27But the point of all of this is, yes, the process may be lengthy.

02:31It may be, it may need further determination, but the point is to get to that final goal.

02:37So as long as we are getting to the end of these negotiations, that we're actually receiving

02:43answers, that we are now at the point of action with less discussion, that is what's

02:48most important, that we are now moving forward and able to have actionable items.

02:52What are some of the actionable items that you expect to see, again, knowing that there

02:57are still several days to go?

02:58What are some of the actionable items that you expect to come out of this year's summit?

03:03The most important actionable item for me is the ratification of the High Seas Treaty,

03:08that that is further pushed forward.

03:10Bermuda is located in the middle of the Sargasso Sea.

03:13We are the only nation that has any real ties to the Sargasso Sea, and it is an extremely

03:19important environment globally.

03:22If the sea around Bermuda fails, then all the others do as well, because it is a migratory

03:26pathway.

03:29My vision, of course, is that there will be a Sargasso Sea sanctuary within the BB&J agreement.

03:36Again, that all of these nations are now pushing forward to fully approve and ratify this High

03:42Seas Treaty that was agreed last year.

03:44Now, even with those signs of progress that you mentioned, another undeniable issue with

03:49these summits is the absence of leaders from the world's biggest polluters, places like

03:54China, the United States, the European Union.

03:57How do you justify the existence of these summits if the most important actors aren't

04:01present?

04:02Because ultimately, a lot of the most important steps that need to be taken to reduce CO2

04:09emissions is for the biggest emitters of CO2 to commit to things, and where it doesn't

04:14look like that's moving forward with the absence of these leaders.

04:19I believe that things are moving forward without them.

04:22Those who disrupt the most, those who have the biggest voice, often get the most platform.

04:28So at this point in time, during this COP, I'm seeing a lot of the more underrepresented

04:33nations having a bigger voice this year because those big polluters are not here.

04:38They have opportunities, more opportunities this year in comparison to last year to have

04:43their voices heard.

04:44And again, that is the most important part of making change, is hearing from these nations

04:49such as mine.

04:51Bermuda does not have any representation from our government at this point in time.

04:55Because we are a subnational island jurisdiction, we are not actually provided with a seat at

05:00COP.

05:01It's something we have to apply to the USA to have.

05:04So again, hearing from small nations such as mine and underrepresented nations, especially

05:10underrepresented communities such as our indigenous communities, is vital.

05:14And I feel that that is happening this year.

05:17In March, Noel, the president of host nation Azerbaijan, said in a speech that the world

05:22simply cannot develop without fossil fuels.

05:25As someone who has worked in community engagement on sustainable environmental practices, is

05:30there truth to this claim?

05:31What alternatives to fossil fuels do you see in the pursuit of increasing the standard

05:35of living, especially in developing nations?

05:40So no, I do not feel that there is truth to that claim.

05:43I feel that the most effective strategies for coming up with plans to implement for

05:49fossil fuel use really is community engagement within each individual nation.

05:55It's different by nation.

05:57It really is.

05:58Everywhere is unique.

05:59So there needs to be, how would you put it, there needs to be more programs offered locally

06:05at the national level.

06:07So that different generations, of course, have a role and have a voice in the conversation

06:12efforts about adopting sustainable practices.

06:17In Bermuda, I do really see things like wind energy and solar being absolutely crucial

06:22at this point in time.

06:23So you have, well, let me just ask a quick follow up, Noel.

06:28Do you think that wind and solar energy can offer the same scale of energy that we see

06:36provided from fossil fuels?

06:38Is it realistic for entire economies to depend on wind and solar energy?

06:44I feel that it is realistic for some nations.

06:47And again, every nation is different.

06:49We are all individuals.

06:51So for some nations, that is very possible.

06:53However, I will state that I believe that a majority of energy can become renewable

06:58at this stage for every nation.

07:01Noel Young from COP29 in Azerbaijan, thank you very much for coming on the show today.

07:07That's unfortunately all we have time for.

07:09Thank you for your time.

COP29: In absence of world's biggest polluters, 'more underrepresented nations have a bigger voice'

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