'It has been an honour': UAE hands Cop presidency to Azerbaijan as crunch summit begins

Dr Sultan Al Jaber hails achievements but acknowledges world meets for Cop29 at a time of 'complexity and conflict'

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Cop29 has kicked off in Azerbaijan with the UAE handing over the presidency. It came during the opening plenary of the crucial climate talks in the capital Baku.

The baton was passed to Cop29 President Mukhtar Babayev, Azerbaijan’s Ecology and Natural Resources Minister, who previously worked for the state oil company Socar.

Over the next two weeks, delegates will try to thrash out a deal to help vulnerable countries transition to sustainable energy systems and defend against the effects of climate change amid a backdrop of extreme weather events such as last week's fatal floods in Spain.

It also comes during a challenging geopolitical environment and the re-election of climate sceptic Donald Trump as US president. Many key world leaders including those of the US and China are not expected to attend.

Before handing over to Azerbaijan, Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, and Cop28 President, acknowledged the world was meeting at a time of “complexity and conflict”.

“Against this backdrop, allow me to say that we, in the UAE, will always choose partnership over polarisation, dialogue over division and peace over provocation," he said.

He said he had been “humbled” by the opportunity of leading the Cop talks in Dubai that resulted in the historic decision to “transition away” from fossil fuels.

“To all the negotiators here today, I thank you for showing the world what real, tangible progress looks like,” he said, referring to the deal known the “UAE Consensus”.

The crunch summit in Azerbaijan, a major fossil-fuel producer, is being called the “finance Cop”. This year, countries will need to agree on a new goal to replace the previous $100 billion a year pledged by developed countries to help developing nations adapt to and mitigate climate change – known as the “new collective quantified goal". It is thought, however, that trillions could be needed.

Dr Al Jaber said the “critical success factor” was finance. “At this Cop, the finance Cop, I urge all parties to deliver a new collective quantified goal that is robust and capable of fully implementing the UAE Consensus.”

The task ahead is urgent, with a major report released by the UN last month warning the 1.5°C goal was slipping out of reach, with the world instead heading for more than 3ºC.

In his first speech as Cop29 President, Mr Babayev said 3ºC of warming would be “catastrophic”. He acknowledged how climate change was hitting Azerbaijan, with the Caspian Sea “shrinking” and glacier retreat and freshwater loss in the Caucasus.

Mr Babayev highlighted how adaptation – helping countries adjust to climate change effects – needed more attention. But he said “much more” was needed from all parties to clinch a deal at the summit.

And the presidency's top priority was agreeing on the new financial goal. "We must invest today to save tomorrow," he said.

Simon Stiell, executive secretary of UN Climate Change, also addressed the opening session, outlining why reaching a deal at Cop29 was so crucial.

"Do you want your grocery and energy bills to go up even more? Do you want your country to become economically uncompetitive? Do you really want even further global instability, costing precious life? This crisis is affecting every single individual in the world in one way or another," said Mr Stiell.

"And I’m as frustrated as anyone that one single Cop can’t deliver the full transformation that every nation needs. But if any of your answers to those questions was no, then it is here that parties need to agree a way out of this mess.

"That’s why here in Baku, we must agree a new global climate finance goal."

Mr Stiell said if two thirds of the world's nations cannot afford to cut emissions quickly, then every country pays a brutal price. Everyone needed to "dispense with the idea that climate finance is charity", he added.

"An ambitious new climate finance goal is entirely in the self-interest of every nation, including the largest and wealthiest," he said. "We cannot leave Baku without a substantial outcome. Now is the time to show that global co-operation is not down for the count. It's rising to this moment."

While the UAE now no longer holds the presidency, this does not mean the Emirates will not be involved in global climate action.

While the finance goal is critical for Cop29, the focus next year turns to the national climate action plans of countries – known as nationally determined contributions – that are due before Cop30 in Brazil.

The Cop Presidencies Troika – an initiative with the Cop28, Cop29 and Cop30 presidencies – aims to build bridges between the summits to ensure commitments are followed through such as raising ambition on the NDCs and the vital 1.5ºC target.

Mr Babayev said keeping the 1.5ºC goal included the need to transition from fossil fuels. Burning fossil fuels is the primary driver of climate change.

It also comes as temperatures continue to be broken, with 2024 expected to be the hottest on record.

If temperatures increase by more than the 1.5ºC warming target, scientists say the lives and livelihoods of people across the world would be in danger.

Dr Al Jaber said the troika was important in this respect. “The troika is mobilising every multilateral platform, from the UN to the G20, to solidify the legacy of the UAE Consensus,” he said.

“It is the road map for keeping 1.5ºC within reach and in line with the science. My dear friend Mukhtar, as I pass the gavel to you … I want you to know that you have my friendship, my partnership and my full support," said Dr Al Jaber, handing over to Mr Babayev.

"Let positivity prevail and let it power the process. Let actions speak louder than words. Let results outlast the rhetoric. And remember ... we are what we do, not what we say.

"On behalf of myself and the Cop28 team … it has been an honour to serve. I have faith that Cop29, here in Azerbaijan, will be another great success.”