COP29: The problem for Islamic Relief

As country delegates congregate again at the 29^th Conference of Parties (COP) to the United Nations climate change convention, Islamic Relief will be there.

We will be supporting with other’s efforts to achieve the most basic commitment to mitigating the climate breakdown that is upon us: Eliminating carbon emissions by ending the exploitation of fossil fuels, gas, oil and even coal, the dirtiest of all, still unaddressed in all of the COPs years of decisions.

We will be supporting with others, the demand that countries enriched by the unlimited use of the same fuels now make just contributions to the poor countries most affected by the climate crisis to help them adapt to and address loss and damage caused.

We will be leading with others, efforts to ensure that countries’ adaptation plans and implementation are properly and accountably funded both in agreements on collective finance goals, and in the indicators being developed for the global adaptation goal.

But our problem as a medium-sized humanitarian and development agency is that these decisions at COP are made by nations. Our issues, concerning people’s poverty, vulnerability and marginalisation in the face of climate change, are not discussed at this level. 

We have done much to get countries to include the rights and needs of poor people, the unique position of women, the voices of local and Indigenous communities, in decisions.  We succeeded in getting the notion of locally-led adaptation into the vocabulary of the negotiations. 

But the fact remains that COP is a meeting of nations, and the interests of governments are so often not that of the people with whom we work. We align ourselves with countries and their groupings: African Group of Nations, Least Developed Countries, Small Island Developing States etc., but we should not do so uncritically. 

We must be aware that the clamour for finance first is logical, but that it also serves the interests and ambitions of many countries’ elites. It may be the case that accountability first would be a better principal, even if that means agreeing with the likes of the US, UK and the EU.

The decisions made will affect the poorest and most marginalised of this world, but only at a great distance from their immediate suffering.  Islamic Relief must continue to provide a voice for them and contrive whatever outcomes might best serve their interests eventually. 

But we should not fool ourselves that our presence in Azerbaijan, or next year at COP 30, is where the difference is really being made.

Visit our website to find out more about Islamic Relief at COP29 and support our work helping communities dealing with the climate emergency, to adapt and thrive by donating now.