The United Nations Climate Change Conference confirms the climate crisis, with the World Meteorological Organization reporting that persistent high global temperatures may lead to 2024 being the warmest year on record.  

Not only will 2024 be the hottest year on record, but greenhouse gas emissions have reached record highs, ocean heat content is the highest on record, and glacier loss is accelerating sea level rise. 

Estimates show that global surface air temperature was 1.54 C higher than pre-industrial levels. 

WMO General Secretary, Celeste Saulo said: “Whether it is at a level below or above 1.5°C of warming, every additional increment of global warming increases climate extremes, impacts and risks.” 

“We urgently need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen our monitoring and understanding of our changing climate,” said Saulo. 

COP29 began on the 11 November 2024 in Baku, Azerbaijan.  

Azerbaijan proved a controversial location for the conference, given that gas makes up 90 per cent of Azerbaijan’s foreign exports.  

The Azerbaijani government have shared plans to expand gas production by up to a third over the next decade.  

This is at odds with the conference’s goal of transitioning away from fossil fuels.  

Former US-vice president, Al Gore said: “The global community has to organise a far more effective way to run these Cops. The UN secretary general ought to have a role in who’s going to be host.” 

Another issue, as reported by the BBC, is that Azerbaijani officials are using the conference to further investment into the country’s oil and gas industries. 

In a leaked recording, COP29’s chief executive Elnur Soltanov was caught discussing lucrative investments in Azerbaijan’s state oil sector, sparking allegations of greenwashing.  

He said: “We have a lot of gas fields that are to be developed,” when talking with a man posing as a potential investor. 

Notable attendees include UN Secretary-General António Guterres, World Bank President Ajay Banga, UK Secretary of State Ed Miliband and Prime Minister Keir Starmer. 

Notable absences will be US President Joe Biden, Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.  

The key topic of this year’s conference is money and global disparity. 

In line with the 2015 Paris Agreement – which pledges that leaders will try to prevent global temperatures from rising by more than 1.5 C annually – countries must commit to helping emerging economies cut their environmental impact.  

Campaigners estimate that the Global North owes the South $5 trillion a year, viewing this as a key step in building global trust.  

Current chief of the European Climate Foundation, Laurence Tubiana said “One of the founding pillars of the Paris agreement is financial solidarity between developed and developing countries… However, there can be no climate justice without fiscal justice, as all countries are facing the same challenge: how to fund the transition while ensuring that those with the greatest means and the highest emissions pay their fair share.” 

Crucially, talks would involve China and the Gulf States (previously considered emerging economies) in contributing to the global fund.  

Also under discussion is Donald Trump’s recent victory in the US election. 

The President-elect is a climate sceptic, and his first term saw the US withdraw from the Paris Agreement.  

This was later re-instated by President Joe Biden. 

US climate envoy, John Podesta said: “Although under Donald Trump’s leadership the U.S. federal government placed climate-related actions on the back burner, efforts to prevent climate change remain a commitment in the U.S. and will confidently continue.”  

Looking to the future, he also said: “The UN climate conference in Baku represents a critical opportunity to cement our progress.”  

The conference will conclude on the November 22, 2024.