A few screens to show the agenda, a stage with microphones and a hundred diligent members. In room number 9 of zone B, at the entrance to the maze of 29 tents.my Climate Conference of the Parties (COP29) in Baku, the Climate Action Network (CAN) holds one of its many daily briefings. “We must emphasize the arguments of developing countriesrecalls Janet Milongo, a Kenyan renewable energy specialist. We have to be strategic, it is the last three days of the COP. Let’s push, push, push…”
Hamdi Benslama grabs the microphone. Advocacy manager for the ActionAid organization, the young man defends the European Union (EU) nomination for Fossil of the Day, a satirical award given by the CAN every day of the COP. “Everyone has been discussing the New Collective Quantified Goal for three years. and we still do not have an amount from the EU”says about the central text of this conference that must determine the aid that will be provided to developing countries. Round of applause. Switzerland’s candidacy “very polite, too calm”, in climate negotiations, it is also acclaimed.
At the end of the day, in the small area reserved for NGO activities, a young woman dressed in an inflatable dinosaur costume greets the spectators, and a master of ceremonies in tails, dressed in a mask and hat, makes people sing. to the spectators. the music of Jurassic Park. Two young people receive the awards on behalf of the EU and Switzerland. “We deserve this award, aren’t we one of the largest historical emitters?the incarnation of the Twenty-Seven jokes ironically. We are asking other countries to help us so we can help you. » A reference to the fact that the EU is calling for an expansion of the taxpayer base.
The small crowd was met with boos and films as suited diplomats ran from one meeting to join another. Classic COP scene, a place of mixing genres where meetings reserved for world leaders join civil society events.
One of the largest attack forces.
Amid the immense archipelago of a United Nations climate conference, civil society has always represented an important island. In Baku, of the planned 50,000 participants, 9,882 credentials were awarded to NGO members. The CAN, a federation of 1,900 associations present in 130 countries, has one of the largest civil society strike forces on climate issues. During the COPs, the network has the privilege of organizing a press conference every day in one of the two large rooms. Enough to give visibility to the 60 member organizations that will come to Baku.
You have 53.74% of this article left to read. The rest is reserved for subscribers.
