As the world prepares for COP30 in Brazil, we speak to COP29 President Mukhtar Babayev about climate finance, political divisions, and how to turn promises into progress.
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00:00From our side, from COP29 side, from our partners, now we need to call to the countries to action, to implementation.
00:20Hello and welcome to Energy Frontiers, our new Euronews series exploring the global energy landscape.
00:27It was right here in Baku, Azerbaijan, that the COP29 UN Climate Change Conference was held late last year.
00:35And today, we're talking to COP29 President Mokhtar Babayev about the diplomatic challenges that lay ahead as we move towards COP30 in Brazil.
00:44To begin with, here's a quick overview of what's at stake.
00:49A decade since the Paris Agreement was signed and the road ahead is uncertain.
00:54In January 2025, U.S. President Trump withdrew from the climate deal again.
01:01And as Brazil prepares for COP30, developing countries want action, not promises.
01:07Poorer nations need more money to adapt to climate change and more money for low-carbon energy.
01:14Many voices are calling for an end to fossil fuel use and an end to deforestation.
01:20COP30 in November will be a fresh test of global ambition on climate change.
01:26And as the planet warms rapidly, the need for multilateral cooperation is higher than ever.
01:33I'm delighted to say that I'm joined in studio by Mokhtar Babayev, the President of COP29.
01:38Thank you so much for being here today.
01:40Thank you for your invitation.
01:41We've seen, of course, President Trump exit the U.S. from the Paris Agreement again.
01:46When it comes to the COP process, what impact, what bearing does this have?
01:51Our mission is to build a trust between the countries, between the parties, to be interconnected, to be the bridge between the countries.
01:59And in this case also we hope that the process, the climate process is multilateral process.
02:09We would like to see all countries to be the part of the discussions, of the negotiations, obligations.
02:17But we understand that each country possibly has own agenda.
02:23The U.S. is a big emitter, the big player on the carbon market.
02:30And I think we respect the position of the United States.
02:35From the global north to the global south, countries have different ambitions, different resources, timelines and priorities.
02:42It's a fragmented landscape at present.
02:45Do you believe that leadership when it comes to climate change is somewhat rudderless at this point?
02:51It's not one country as a leader of the process.
02:53I think in different regions of the world, different continents, different countries take this leadership and continue this process.
03:02And we expected the continuation of the big interest of the renewable energy.
03:09Today is already visible.
03:11Today is already interesting for the private sector.
03:14We've got the U.S. and other producers pumping more oil than ever before.
03:19When we look at the Paris Agreement, have we lost sight of our goals and ambitions?
03:23Today, more and more countries now invested to the green and alternative energy than to fossil fuel.
03:38And I think the process will continue.
03:40For example, in Azerbaijan, we, together with our partners, we investing a lot to the green transition.
03:50But, you know, Azerbaijan is an oil and gas country.
03:54That's why I think the Paris Agreement is a very good framework for the countries to cooperate and develop this energy transition in the future.
04:08Famously, at COP29, in your speech, you said that the current policies are leading us down the road to ruin and that certain countries who are suffering most at the hands of climate change needed less paperwork, less prayers, more compassion, more action.
04:24In terms of the unmissable opportunity that COP29 presented, what's been done since then?
04:31We agreed regarding the first time ever in the UN system, 300 billion of the contributions agreed to the at least 300 billion contributions, dollars contributions to developing world, to developing countries, to assist them to move their economy to the alternative energy.
04:53Another one big decision in Baku, it was Article 6 rules agreement, and I think it is also big chance for the private sector, good conditions for the private sector to be involved in the process of the finance.
05:08At the same time, the loss and damage fund operationalization is also, we agreed all necessity frameworks and documents to start the funding
05:22already in 2025.
05:23Understanding that it's a continual process and focusing on the developing countries that you mentioned there, many left feeling frustrated, arguing that they didn't receive the funding, the financing needed for not only adaptation, but mitigation.
05:38How do you respond to those criticisms?
05:40You know, sometimes some skepticism we have from the different parties, but I think the, again, very important decision made in Baku at COP29 give us a good fundament for the countries to collaborate.
05:57At the same time, now our mission is continuing, that now we push the countries to perform these promises, perform these obligations. That's why this year is very important.
06:12As you look to pass the baton to Brazil for COP30, what would your advice be? What must be prioritized?
06:21I think it's so very important and difficult time. And now the Brazilian team is under big pressure. Our focus is to very important process of the support of the least developed countries, small island development states and other developing countries.
06:44Because now it's time for the developed world, for the global north to demonstrate this leadership and to provide necessity contributions.
06:55I fully agree with you to demonstrate leadership, to provide the resources. But where is the accountability? Not least for the promises made in Glasgow, in Dubai, in Baku and through to Brazil.
07:07What mechanisms are in place to make sure that these things happen?
07:11I think the obligations of each countries to perform the agreement, to perform the pledges, to perform the obligations. And I think now from our side, from COP29 side, from other, our partners, now it's we need to call to the countries to action, to implementation.
07:34We hope that in Brazil we will have also good discussions, good outcomes, and we are trying to support the Brazilian team in all these preparations.
07:43We sadly have to leave our conversation there, but thank you so much for your time.
07:46Thank you too.
07:47Well that's a wrap of this episode, but join me again next time on Energy Frontiers. Until then, take care and goodbye.
07:53Music
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