PreCop Provides Strong Platform to Begin Negotiations Ahead of COP29 – EU Commissioner

The recent PreCop event has established a robust foundation for the forthcoming COP29 climate negotiations, as highlighted by Wopke Hoekstra, the European Union’s Commissioner for Climate Action. The statement came during Hoekstra’s address in the “Global Perspectives” lecture series at ADA University, set against the backdrop of the Center of Excellence in European Studies at the Institute for Development and Diplomacy.

Hoekstra underscored the substantial efforts required as COP29 approaches, emphasizing the necessity to solidify the consensus reached at the previous COP28 meeting held in Dubai. He pointed out that the initial discussions at PreCop serve as a promising precursor to the more intensive negotiations anticipated at COP29.

Highlighting the urgency of global transitions in energy systems, Hoekstra remarked, “It’s essential to pivot towards renewable energy sources. The phase-out of fossil fuels like gas must be prioritized to diminish our reliance on them and ameliorate the impact of climate change.” He recognized that while the transition towards a greener future necessitates significant financial commitments, public funds alone might prove insufficient. The strategic allocation of these resources is crucial, particularly for nations that require substantial support to address climate disruptions.

The Pre-COP event, conducted on October 10-11 in Azerbaijan, serves as a precursor meeting for each Conference of the Parties arranged under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Such gatherings typically occur about a month before the main conference, facilitating an informal exchange among selected countries on critical political elements of climate negotiations. The outcomes of these discussions often inform political strategies and recommendations for the impending discussions at the COP event.

This November, Azerbaijan is set to host COP29, with the decision cemented during the COP28 plenary meeting. As Baku prepares to welcome approximately 70,000 to 80,000 international visitors, it will temporarily transform into a hub of global climate discourse.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, established during the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, aims to mitigate perilous human interference with the climate system. The Conference of the Parties (COP) represents the convention’s governing assembly, responsible for supervising its execution. With 198 nations as signatories, the COP convenes annually unless agreed otherwise by its members. The inaugural session took place in March 1995 in Berlin, Germany, with its permanent secretariat stationed in Bonn.

As the world converges on Baku for COP29, the precedents set during Pre-COP highlight the critical nature of unified global strategies in combating climate change. The allocation of resources, transition to sustainable energy, and collaboration across nations are pivotal in addressing the escalating challenges posed by climate impacts. The international community remains hopeful that the foundations laid during PreCop will foster productive dialogues and outcomes at COP29.