We should stay alert on matters regarding climate change. Apparently, Cop29 chief executive has been filmed acknowledging to facilitate fossil fuel deals at the climate summit. The recording has amplified calls by campaigners who want the fossil fuel industry and its lobbyists to be banned from future Cop talks. According to the campaign group Global Witness which posed undercover as a fake oil and gas group asking for deals to be facilitated in exchange for sponsoring the event.
Elnur Soltanov, Azerbaijan’s deputy energy minister and chief executive of Cop29 in the recording agreed to this and spoke of a future that includes fossil fuels “perhaps for ever”. Cop officials also introduced the fake investor to a senior executive at the national oil and gas company Socar to discuss investment opportunities.
The chief executive said “I would be happy to create a contact between your team and their team [Socar] so that they can start discussions.” Shortly after that they received an email from Socar. The UN framework convention on climate change (UNFCCC), the UN body that oversees Cop, says officials should not use their roles “to seek private gain” and it expects them to act “without self-interest”. He also mentioned that “We will have a certain amount of oil and natural gas being produced, perhaps for ever.” At Cop28 last year, the countries involved agreed to transition away from fossil fuels, and the UN body the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is clear that developing new oil and gas fields is incompatible with climate goals signed up to in the Paris agreement.The Cop29 team also appeared willing to waive climate requirements for the company if it sponsored the event.
The Cop event sponsors are supposed to commit to cutting their emissions and are expected to sign a “national pledge”, promising to come up with a “credible net zero transition plan” at some point over the next two years.
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Fossil fuel lobbyists have received more passes to COP29 than all the delegates from the 10 most climate-vulnerable nations combined (1,033), underscoring how industry presence is dwarfing that of those on the frontlines of the climate crisis.
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2 w
We all need to say no to fossil fuels..their effects affect us all as a whole despite our geographical locations.
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@rosebellendiritu the end of fossil fuels will be the beginning of a better world 🌎
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Dear Annett Michuki.. Your climate warning has received over 50 agrees! We have reached out to COP29 Azerbaijan by email and requested a response. I will keep you updated on any progress! To reach more people and increase the chance of a response, click the Share button above to share the review on your social accounts. For every new member that joins We Don't Have Time from your network, we will plant a tree and attribute it to you! /Adam, We Don't Have Time
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3 w
I read it in BBC and its shameful that he was recorded privately without his knowledge...senior official at COP29 climate change conference in Azerbaijan appears to have used his role to arrange a meeting to discuss potential fossil fuel deals Read more: https://bbc.in/3CgkyAj
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5 d
@patrick_kiash Probably this is what happens in these meetings and that's why they keep allowing fossil fuel lobbyists in these meetings every other year, is sad i wonder who will help us.
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3 w
COP summits, which bring together leaders, negotiators, and stakeholders from around the world, are meant to focus on concrete actions to mitigate climate change, with a strong emphasis on reducing fossil fuel dependence and transitioning to cleaner energy sources.
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3 w
No wonder since 2015 the climate crisis has not yet been solved.
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3 w
@tabitha_kimani exactly 💯
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@tabitha_kimani Exactly and now I wonder if we should be trusting COP anymore.
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3 w
This is so heartbreaking. This goes against the goal of reducing carbon emissions and transitioning to renewable energy. It's important for leaders to prioritize sustainable solutions. Let this be the last COP to be hosted by the fossil fuel leader. The next one should be thoroughly vetted to ensure conformity to global push for sustainability.
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@walter_lungayi I second you, vetting would be helpful
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@walter_lungayi Exactly that should keep these corrupt leaders away from these meetings.
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3 w
It's about time that we all put aside our differences and Interests and deal with the issue of climate change sooner.
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3 w
@jane_wangui some of the leaders we have are extremely selfish
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@jane_wangui The longer we delay action or prioritize narrow interests, the harder it will be to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.
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This makes me wonder how much more effort it will take to shift the focus to genuine, unwavering climate action.
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@princess_nel_268 As long as we don't give the fight nothing comes easy.
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Totally agree posted a similar warning to the UN.
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@lucinda_ramsay the matter should be taken with seriousness
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@lucinda_ramsay I find it absurd how this is the second CEO elected that has a history with fossil fuel.