As the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) unfolded in Baku, Azerbaijan, the growing impatience of the Global South took center stage.
For years, these nations have been promised action, solidarity, and financial support to combat the impacts of climate change. Yet, as the first week of the summit drew to a close, frustration boiled over, exposing deep divisions in global climate diplomacy.
The most striking moment of the week came when delegates representing the 47 least developed countries (LDCs) and small island states staged a dramatic walkout during a key negotiation session.
Their decision to leave the table was not taken lightly but was a calculated response to what they described as a lack of urgency and ambition from wealthier nations.
“Our futures cannot be negotiated like this,” declared a visibly frustrated Pacific’s lead negotiator on Climate finance, Mr Wayne King, capturing the sentiment of many.
At the center of the dispute was climate finance, a cornerstone of international climate agreements. In 2009, developed nations pledged $100 billion annually by 2020 to assist developing countries in addressing climate challenges.
This target remains unmet, with gaps in delivery and accountability. At COP29, discussions focused on setting a new financial target for 2025 onwards, but proposals from developed nations were deemed grossly insufficient.
The European Union offered $300 billion annually by 2035—a figure quickly dismissed by the Global South as inadequate. India’s climate envoy criticized the proposal as “woefully disconnected from the realities we face.
Brazil, a key negotiator, suggested an alternative figure of $390 billion, but this, too, fell short of the $1.3 trillion annually by 2035 demanded by developing countries, including many African nations.
“These figures are not mere numbers. They represent lives, livelihoods, and entire ecosystems,” argued Ali Mohammed, Chair of the African Group of Negotiators (AGN).
Recent data from the UN explained the urgency: climate-induced damages in developing nations reached $215 billion in 2023 and are projected to double by 2030 without significant mitigation efforts.
For African countries, the stakes are exceptionally high. The continent is home to some of the world’s most climate-vulnerable nations, facing severe droughts, floods, and food insecurity. “Africa is not asking for charity; we are asking for justice,” said Rohey John, Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources, the Gambia.
She explained the disproportionate impacts of climate change on African communities, where millions depend on rain-fed agriculture and are at the mercy of increasingly erratic weather patterns.
A key demand from the Global South was the creation of a dedicated fund for loss and damage.
This issue, long sidelined in climate negotiations, has gained traction in recent years as the impacts of climate change become more severe and unavoidable.
Delegates from small island states proved the existential threats they face, with rising sea levels threatening to submerge entire nations. “We are fighting to keep our homelands above water,” said Prime Minister of Tuvalu, Feleti P. Teo
Outside the negotiation rooms, the frustration of the Global South resonated with activists. Demonstrations erupted across the conference venue, with protesters forming a human chain to demand climate justice.
Sela Vosikata a Fijian activist, shared her story of displacement caused by rising seas. “My home is underwater, and my people are running out of time,” she said, her voice breaking with emotion. “COP29 must deliver, not just for us but for future generations.”
The leadership of COP29 faced criticism for its handling of the negotiations. The presidency was accused of sidelining vulnerable nations in critical discussions, prompting calls for greater transparency and inclusivity.
Cedric Schuste, head of the negotiating group for small island states, expressed frustration over “closed-door diplomacy.” “Our futures cannot be decided without our voices in the room,” he asserted.
The UK and Brazil attempted to mediate the growing tensions. Both countries announced new emissions targets for 2035 in an attempt to demonstrate leadership and build trust.
However, these gestures did little to bridge the widening divide. Data shows the disparity in responsibility: the top 1% of global emitters account for 23% of emissions, while the poorest half of the world contributes just 7%.
For many in the Global South, the walkout was not just a protest but a proof of their determination to hold wealthier nations accountable. “The time for promises is over,” declared Ahmad Kamruzzaman a delegate from Bangladesh. “We need action, and we need it now.”
As this occurred, the climate crisis continues to leave millions in distress. The UN released a report that revealed that climate change and conflicts have left millions of people across the world in dire straits, with nowhere to run to.
The UN report cast a grim spotlight on the intersection of the two — natural and the other man-made — warning that millions of people in Africa and beyond are at severe risk as climate hazards surge.
The report, No Escape: On the Frontlines of Climate Change, Conflict, and Forced Displacement, was released by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) on the sidelines of the COP29 conference in Baku, Azerbaijan.
The report revealed a rapidly escalating crisis, noting that by 2040, extreme climate hazards could impact 65 countries—up from the current three.
This increase would primarily affect countries hosting large numbers of displaced people, with most refugee settlements predicted to endure twice as many days of dangerous heat by 2050.
The report painted a picture of how climate change is compounding the suffering of those already displaced by conflict, especially in regions that lack the resources to cope with both crises simultaneously.
Africa, hosting millions of displaced individuals, is particularly affected. UNHCR reports that over 120 million people are currently forcibly displaced worldwide, with three-quarters residing in countries already heavily impacted by climate change.
Half are in regions simultaneously facing conflict and climate threats, including nations such as Ethiopia, Somalia, and Sudan.
Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, explained the injustice facing displaced people and host communities as a result of the climate crisis.
“The climate emergency represents a deep injustice. People forced to flee, and the communities hosting them are the least responsible for carbon emissions, yet they are paying the highest price,” he said.
Grandi noted that while climate finance pledges have been made, billions of dollars never reach these vulnerable communities, with humanitarian aid failing to bridge the gap.
The report cited Sudan as a significant example. The ongoing conflict there has driven millions into Chad, a country that has been a host to refugees for decades yet is itself one of the most vulnerable to climate impacts.
“In South Sudan, and around this region where so many people have been displaced for so many years, we see the effects of climate change before our very eyes,” observed Stephen Wani, Executive Director, Africa Democracy and Resilience Network -Juba.
