Voices From the Margins of COP 28: They Must Guide COP 29

Aisha Moon
Nov 14, 2024
7 min read

The Voices Unheard from COP 28

On the sidelines of the COP 28 summit held last year, the Indigenous people, the climate activists, the least developed countries and island countries’ representatives, and the concerned citizens had fumed with frustration as the summit concluded with only a non-binding call for energy “transition away” from fossil fuels. For the world leaders who will participate in the COP 29 summit, which is to be held in Azerbaijan in November 2024, the paramount duty is to listen to these voices and act on them, at least this time.

The COP 28 summit succeeded in including the terms 'energy transition' and 'fossil fuels' in the official document for the first time in history. However, this was much, much less than what was needed. Despite the landmark agreements arrived at on sustainable agriculture and loss and damage fund at COP 28, the public, as a whole, saw the summit document as lacking in addressing the imminent dangers of climate change. Here are a few voices heard from the margins of that summit, mostly from the least developed countries and observer organisations.

COP 28: What The Small Islands and the Least Developed Countries Said

The Marshall Island representative said,

“I came here to build a canoe together for my country. Instead, we have built a canoe with a weak and leaky hole, full of holes. Yet we have to put it into the water because we have no other option. As we have said, tides are eating away at our shores, and our wells are filling with salt water. Our families are at risk. And so we must save this canoe…I appreciate the effort that has gone into this outcome. But it has not been inclusive. The fact that the decision was tabled without a major group in the room, which represents one of the most vulnerable groups in the world, is unacceptable...In the context of the real world, where temperatures are rising, and people are dying, (this document) is not enough. … We continue to call for a phase-out of fossil fuels….”

The Holy See (Vatican) called for more courage and commitment from the developed world and stated,

“The expectations of the …future generations, especially those of the people living in the areas most affected by climate change have not been completely met. And … there was not a full response to the science. We understand the difficulties that a drastic transition to a decarbonised society represents for certain countries.… We must also consider intergenerational justice, and our duty to do all we can for the common good… it is the responsibility of each one of us to leave no one behind. …The goal is clear. Firstly to accelerate climate action and transition away from fossil fuels in a just and equitable manner, it is critical to keep 1.5 within reach. Secondly, to give hope and secure a livable common home for our children, where everyone, everywhere can thrive, the appeal of His Honour Pope Francis, I quote, “To move beyond the mentality of appearing to be concerned but not having courage needed to produce substantial changes”, unquote, sounds inspiring more than ever.”

Sierra Leone, on behalf of the least developed countries group, raised a call for help and demanded concrete action and support-

“Our countries are the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, despite minimal contribution. Our people will consider it a glaring injustice if, after decades of advocating for the GGA (Global Goal on Adaptation) and two years of working on creating a robust framework, we do not see concrete outcomes that will truly enhance our abilities to adapt to climate change on the ground. … Our communities deserve more than aspirational goals. They need real, immediate, and impactful support to adapt to the realities of climate change.”

What the Young People, Environment Groups, and Women Said

Representatives of youth non-governmental organisations made this passionate appeal to phase out fossil fuels and pointed to the hypocrisy of the COP 28 leadership in this-

“The outcomes of this COP that you just stood up clapping for are so weak that you have just now written my obituary; I am just 16 years old. We tried to warn the world that the complex of interests that presides over this COP and the fossil fuel lobbies in this house smells like oil and like gas. The outcome of this COP is proof that you are sell-outs to corporate interests. Shame! You have made yourselves clear. You care more about profits than about our future. Shame! We demand a full, fair, feminist, and equitable phase-out of all fossil fuels and all fossil fuel subsidised. We will accept nothing else.”

The representative of environmental NGOs, though expressing disappointment in the outcome, stood their ground and declared that they would fight fossil fuels to the very end. They said,

“Civil society came to this COP with a simple litmus test; to deal a blow to the era of fossil fuels. But ending the fossil fuel era should be just and should be equitable. Rich nations must go first and fast. They should start by stopping their expansion and licensing of all new fossil fuel projects including gas, right now. They are already busting any chance of staying within 1.5 degrees. Rich nations and big polluters must also fund this energy transition in developing countries. We will escalate our fights to ensure that this finance is delivered. We will not allow rich nations to shift the burden to poor nations and people least responsible for this crisis. To the fossil fuel industry and their allies- you came here with your power, resources, and lobbyists. But we will defeat you. Do not think that you have been given a licence with all the loopholes in this outcome. Your time is up. There is no space in this world for the industries that profit from the destruction of our planet and its people.”

Representatives of Women and Gender NGOs were also deeply dissatisfied with the COP 28 outcome. They said,

“As movements, we fought hard and continue to fight for the end of the era of fossil fuels in a just and equitable manner, towards a transition that centres human rights, gender equality and care. It should not have taken us this many years to call for a transition away from fossil fuels. We all are critical of this outcome, full of false solutions and dangerous distractions and threatens any hope of keeping 1.5 alive. And this undermines the very survival of people on this planet…an outcome that does not deliver an end to the extractive system that has been harming, murdering and destroying lands. And bodies across the majority of the world cannot be applauded as delivering gender justice.”

The Voices of Farmers, Trade Unions and Indigenous People in COP 28

The representatives of farmers were the only group that at least partially felt benefitted from the summit, and one representative said,

“I am representing the farmers’ constituency who are on the frontline of climate impact. Farmers had high expectations from the COP that had started putting agriculture high on the agenda. With the launch of the UAE declaration on sustainable agriculture and climate action, we welcome the UAE Consensus, but farmers’ ambition has not been recognised here in Dubai. First, we are extremely disappointed by the outcome of the joint work on agriculture; the failure to agree on a roadmap is a failure to deliver on farmers.”

The representative of Indigenous People reminded the world about the new threat of green colonialism, where in the name of climate mitigation, corporations could grab and exploit lands that belong to the Indigenous people and local populations-

“We would like to remind all of you that we cannot compromise for our mother Earth. We cannot compromise on protecting all living beings. We must act respectfully and reciprocally for the very being that provides us all life. ….We are not here simply for your photo opportunities. We are right holders. … Why are we seeing greater numbers of oil and gas lobbies, including in the close-door negotiations? These individuals outnumber Indigenous delegates seven times over. They have been given the green light to continue developing on our lands in the name of green colonialism and false solutions. The just transition cannot be an excuse for the extraction of minerals on our lands. We will not allow our rights to be diminished, undermined, combined, or confused in any way. Regardless of the power imbalances and the lack of transparency in the negotiations, we remain committed to ensuring that our voices, our solutions and our wisdom guide the development of an effective climate strategy. This includes keeping the 1.5-degree Celsius target alive in transforming from the colonial capitalist systems that created this crisis and continue to commodify the sacred.”

The representative of Trade Unions and NGOs asserted their right to a just transition in the following words,

“With this agreement, the parties are sending the world a clear message. We are dangerously far behind. There is an enormous amount of work to do, and we still haven’t committed to actually doing it. The how remains unclear. First, on the global stocktake, trade unions are calling for a just transition away from fossil fuels. And we are glad to see this imperative finally reflected in the text. But this text also includes, as referenced by many parties, many loopholes that do not inspire confidence that the parties will do what is necessary in the best interest of workers and all people. … There are parties here that are afraid of workers, afraid of a world in which people get paid honest wages for honest work. This isn’t us begging for scraps. You need us to negotiate effective climate solutions but also to do the actual work. Who do you think is going to build the solar panels, the wind farms and the public transit systems? Who do you think is going to care for the sick and the wounded after the fires and the floods? Without the active participation of all workers, the transition will not work. Billions of people across the world are workers.”

As the world leaders prepare to gather for another COP summit in Azerbaijan, the above voices from the real people of this planet must guide them and make them accountable.