To say the outcomes of the 2024 UN climate negotiations (or COP29) are disappointing in the eyes of most is an understatement. Perhaps the signs were already there, in several ways.

Finance has arguably been the most divisive issue in the history of the climate COPs. Almost every aspect of global climate action, from adaptation and loss and damage (L&D) to mitigation and just transition, encountered this roadblock in Baku.

(Photo: UN Climate Change – Kamran Guliyev)And while many Parties and observers hoped for trillions of dollars of annual public finance for the next global finance goal (or NCQG), the divide between developed and developing nations, and even among developing countries themselves, proved too much and stopped making these expectations a reality.

Yet this was not the only matter that gave countless delegates a headache during the negotiations. 

Inclusive?

More than 70,000 delegates registered for COP29; while lower than the record-setting attendance from last year’s summit, it is also higher than many anticipated, given that the logistical capacity in Baku are simply smaller compared to the 2023 host-city Dubai.

The establishment of a virtual platform that allowed nearly 4000 people to attend COP29 is a welcomed development, given the lack of such space during the intersessional conference in Bonn six months ago and amid reduced funding for the UNFCCC.

While total attendance is lower than last year, there are noticeable trends that correspond to a more inclusive conference. This year’s number of media representatives is the second-highest and the gender balance is also the best in the history of climate COPs, although women only comprised 40% of all registered participants.

Unfortunately, fossil fuel lobbyists are once again a significant presence at this COP, considering the host country’s affinity for natural gas. A recent report shows this sector has a bigger delegation than almost every Party, except for Azerbaijan, Brazil, and Turkey.

Accessible?

The transport system around Baku is more favorable for the participants compared to the previous two COPs. Shuttle buses ran on regular intervals with designated stops across the city, while the Baku Metro rapid transit was free for all delegates. A virtual transport map was also available for use, although some expressed issues with its user-friendliness. 

The location of the conference, Baku Stadium, was also smaller and more contained, in contrast to the wide-open venues in Sharm El Sheikh and Dubai. While this set-up made it easier and quicker to navigate its five main areas, it also made many feel compressed. 

This was especially evident in the area for the delegation Pavilions, where some participants reported smells of carpet and paint that induced sneezing and added even more stress, as if the stakes of the negotiations on Article 6 and other issues are not yet enough. Even the enthusiasm of the local youth volunteers manning the help desks and showing the way to the entrance and exit points may not have been enough to offset (pun intended) this stress.

There was support provided for persons with disabilities, such as wheelchairs and volunteers helping them move around and within the venue. However, there were some observations that indicate that said support can be improved. For example, elevators that should be prioritized for persons with disabilities are instead being occupied by delegates who are capable of using the stairs along the exit pathway.

Equal? 

The compressed set-up also made it difficult to hear what was being said in the side events. This led to headphones needing to be worn by both speakers and audiences just to be able to understand each other. Not all Pavilions had this option, which once again highlights the inequalities that emerge at climate COPs outside of the negotiating table. 

Speaking of inequalities, the issue of high prices of foods and drinks inside the venue returns to torment most delegates, especially those from developing countries. Some of them cost twice as much as the price for the same items outside in shops and restaurants around the city. This is a big reason why lines for free coffee and tea at specific Pavilions (special thanks to the likes of Germany, Australia, Azerbaijan, and the United Kingdom, among others) are long.

Maybe the NCQG negotiations could have gone better if they identified climate COP foods and drinks as a source of funding. [I am joking, of course.]

Booking accommodations in the COP host-city does not have to be a complicated process. Yet there were way too many incidents of hosts cancelling reserved or even paid bookings that caused inconvenience for attendees. Prices of hotel rooms and AirBNB apartments had already soared higher than the actual NCQG [again, I am joking] months before the conference even started. 

But much like what happened at COP27, we saw people help each other out to find rooms for the displaced and scammed and share more cost-saving tips and measures during the two-week event.

Lesson learned?

COP30 in Belem, Brazil needs to learn from the challenges and issues observed for the past two weeks in Baku. As it is expected to be a milestone conference that would focus on nature, just transition, and the next generation of NDCs, there is a chance it could break attendance records for climate COPs. 

Cases of overpricing, lack of access, and booking cancellations should be addressed and prevented by those under Arrangements for Intergovernmental Meetings (AIM), the workstream under the UNFCCC that deals with fostering participation for stakeholders. The outcomes of climate COPs have been falling short of expectations time and again, but the safety, security, and well-being of delegates do not have to as well.

John Leo is the National Coordinator of Aksyon Klima Pilipinas and the Deputy Executive Director for Programs and Campaigns of Living Laudato Si’ Philippines. He is also a member of the Youth Advisory Group for Environmental and Climate Justice under the UNDP in Asia and the Pacific. He has been a climate and environment journalist since 2016.