Greenpeace criticizes the UN climate summit as a disappointing minimal compromise

The climate negotiations in Baku ended with an absolute minimum compromise and a half-hearted climate financing target. By 2035, 300 billion US dollars should be made available annually for global climate protection, climate adaptation and climate-related damage and losses. This is far below the actual needs of developing countries. There is a faint glimmer of hope: by the next climate conference in Brazil, a roadmap should be developed on how this financing gap can be closed. Greenpeace is primarily calling for those responsible for the climate crisis – the fossil fuel industry – to be taxed accordingly and to use the income for climate financing. Greenpeace also criticizes the fact that, after Baku, there is still no obligation to anchor the already decided phase-out of fossil fuels in the climate protection plans due for all countries in 2025.

Jasmin Duregger, climate and energy expert at Greenpeace in Austria and on site in Baku: “The world has missed the chance to finally open the money taps necessary to confront the climate crisis worldwide. This is a bitter disappointment for everyone whose livelihoods and homes are already being destroyed by the climate crisis. A glimmer of hope is the agreement to develop a roadmap for increasing financial resources by the next climate summit in Brazil. Ways must be found there to make the real perpetrators of the climate crisis – the fossil fuel industry – pay.”

There is also hardly any improvement in the move away from fossil fuels: “The climate summit did not achieve the hoped-for progress in climate protection. It is now up to the individual states to show leadership and promote the phase-out of coal, oil and gas in their countries. Climate protection must play a central role in the Austrian government negotiations; this is the only way Austria can remain an ally in the fight against the climate crisis.”

All hope now lies in the climate negotiations in Belem, Brazil next year. Everything there will revolve around increasing the climate protection goals for the 10th anniversary of the Paris climate goals. Duregger on this: “We can now only look forward to the next climate negotiations in Brazil with hope. The expectations are clear: In Brazil it is finally time for a presidency that shows more diplomatic skills and can thus build bridges between the countries. After the disappointing result in Baku, a lot has to be made up for next year.”