COP29: Expect a Smaller Gathering of World Leaders in Baku

The upcoming COP29 climate summit in Azerbaijan is expected to see a smaller turn-out of world leaders compared to last year’s COP28 in Dubai. While the final list is still being finalized, the United Nations has confirmed 106 leaders registered to speak at the Baku conference on November 12-13. This is significantly lower than the 137 who had requested speaking slots by a similar deadline last year, leading to speculation that COP29 will be a more subdued affair.

Reasons for Lower Attendance

There are several possible explanations for the lower attendance. The US is currently preoccupied with its presidential election on November 5th, creating a distraction for President Biden. China’s President Xi Jinping has been largely absent from international events since the COVID-19 pandemic, and his participation in Azerbaijan remains unclear. France, meanwhile, has publicly criticized Azerbaijan’s human rights record and its involvement in the conflict with Armenia, raising questions about President Macron’s attendance.

Additionally, there are notable absences from the list, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is also not expected to attend, despite Australia’s desire to host COP31 in two years’ time.

Climate’s Growing Importance

Despite the lower attendance, Andreas Sieber, 350.org’s associate director of policy and campaigns, points out that the number of world leaders who want to participate is still far greater than in previous years. He argues that this demonstrates the increasing global recognition of climate change as a critical issue.

COP climate summits are crucial platforms for global leaders to discuss and negotiate policies aimed at reducing emissions and adapting to the impacts of climate change. While less prominent than COP28, COP29 is expected to continue these vital discussions, albeit on a smaller scale.

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Keep up-to-date on the latest developments in climate change negotiations and policies by following reputable news sources and subscribing to global climate organizations like 350.org.