Delegates at COP29 in Baku expressed cautious optimism as the United Nations’ annual climate conference entered its second day on Wednesday.
”Intense negotiations started just yesterday, but now we are seeing different opinions and comments from countries on what they expect,” said Kenyan government representative Marlena Nyanserema-Achoki. “So we are optimistic, yes, but let’s see how the first week ends.”
Pascale Palmer from the We Mean Business Coalition highlighted the UK’s ambitious emissions reduction target announced by Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Tuesday. “What I’ve been really optimistic about is what happened yesterday with the UK…that is incredible international leadership,” she said. Starmer pledged an 81% emissions reduction on 1990 levels by 2035, up from the previously pledged 78%, aligning with the Paris Agreement goal to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial times.
More than two dozen world leaders are set to deliver remarks at COP29 on Wednesday, which will also include an update on the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, modeled on previous movements for nuclear weapons, plastic pollution, and chemical weapons control.
- Tags: Azerbaijan, Baku, Climate, COP29, UN
