At COP29, Azerbaijan’s lead negotiator Yalchin Rafiyev reported no formal objections to the decision on the New Collective Quantified Goal. The talks concluded with tensions, particularly from India, which rejected the proposal for failing to represent Global South priorities. Despite these challenges, Rafiyev highlighted the collective success in advancing climate finance goals and operationalizing important agreements.
At COP29, held in Baku, Azerbaijan, Lead Negotiator Yalchin Rafiyev emphasized that there were no formal objections to the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) decision. Despite tensions and pushback from nations like India, who termed the climate finance deal as “stage-managed,” Rafiyev insisted that the accord was ultimately acceptable to all parties involved.
India’s objections arose when it sought the floor before the adoption of a contentious proposal establishing a climate finance goal of at least $300 billion per year by 2035. This decision was made with the expectation that developed countries would lead contributions. Indian representatives expressed disappointment, claiming the agreement did not adequately reflect the priorities of the Global South, an opinion echoed by several developing countries, including Nigeria.
Rafiyev maintained that there were opportunities for all parties to engage meaningfully in discussions throughout the COP29 negotiations. He noted significant advancements, stating, “At that time, I do not think it was the developing countries who were not happy with the outcome,” highlighting an increase from an initial goal of $250 billion to $300 billion for climate actions.
While recognizing challenges faced during the conference, including political changes worldwide, Rafiyev reflected on the achievements of COP29 in operationalizing various decisions such as the loss and damage fund and establishing high-integrity carbon markets. He remarked on the importance of collective efforts, asserting that “when we are together collectively, we manage to get the results.”
Rafiyev also addressed the impact of the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, clarifying that the Baku target is a longer-term objective exceeding individual party commitments. Observing the evolving landscape, he noted China and the UK taking proactive roles in climate change discussions, affirming a multilateral approach to negotiations, rather than one dominated by a single party. Despite claims that developed countries had an undue advantage at Baku, he argued the COP29 Presidency was successful in advocating for an increase in financial commitments, asserting, “We are proud of our work to increase that to $300 billion.”
In summary, COP29 concluded with the establishment of a New Collective Quantified Goal, aiming for a minimum of $300 billion annually for climate finance by 2035. Despite objections from India and other developing nations, Azerbaijan’s lead negotiator Yalchin Rafiyev stated that no formal objections were raised during the talks. The conference faced significant challenges, yet it successfully operationalized critical initiatives, demonstrating the power of collective negotiation in addressing climate commitments.
Original Source: www.hindustantimes.com
