In an interview with Vatican News, Lorna Gold of the Laudato Si’ Movement emphasised COP29’s importance. Having addressed our January meeting, Lorna is familiar with Join the Dots Together.
COP29
COP29, or the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference, is the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The 2024 conference builds on previous commitments by pushing for more ambitious climate action to limit global warming to 1.5°C. Key agenda items include setting a new climate finance goal to replace the prior $100 billion annual target, operationalizing the Loss and Damage Fund to aid vulnerable countries, and enhancing national climate goals or Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) by 2025. A central focus of COP29 is improving the implementation of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, which deals with global carbon markets. The host country, Azerbaijan, also introduced the Climate Finance Action Fund (CFAF), aimed at securing $1 billion annually for renewable energy projects and climate resilience in developing countries.
• UN Climate Change Conference Baku – November 2024 | UNFCCC
• COP29 Azerbaijan – United Nations Climate Change Conference
, ongoing in Baku, Azerbaijan, is a major UN climate conference bringing together world leaders, scientists, activists, and faith-based organizations to tackle urgent climate issues. This year’s focus includes increased funding for climate resilience, equitable transitions away from fossil fuels and maintaining the target of limiting warming to 1.5°C. Speaking to Vatican News, Lorna of the Laudato Si’ Movement emphasized COP29’s importance. She highlighted challenges from fossil fuel lobbies but noted positive civil society involvement, including advocacy for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty
The Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty is a proposed international treaty aimed at phasing out fossil fuel production to mitigate climate change. The initiative calls for a global agreement similar to treaties on nuclear weapons, with three main goals: ending the expansion of fossil fuel production, facilitating a fair transition away from existing fossil fuel use, and ensuring support for workers and communities impacted by the transition. The idea is to prevent further environmental harm by stopping new fossil fuel projects and transitioning towards clean energy sources in an equitable and just manner.
• Read about the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative »
. She underlined the call for intensified climate financing and equitable, urgent actions to support vulnerable communities.
- For more details, interview in Italian is available here
- COP29 on Vatican News