Mid-Ohio Valley Climate Corner: COP(out)29
The United Nations Security Council is the only organ of the United Nations that has the power to make decisions that member states are obligated to implement. Their five permanent members have veto power and are China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland and the United States. There also are ten non-permanent members which are elected each year for a two year term by the U.N. General Assembly. The Presidency of the Security Council rotates monthly among the members. The United Nations Secretary-General is appointed by the Security Council. That individual is the chief administrative officer of the U.N. and has many responsibilities including heading the Secretariat, the part of the U.N. that carries out the organization’s programs, policies and day-to-day work. The UNSG is expected to advocate for all the world’s people, especially the poor and vulnerable. UNSGs serve a five-year term and can be re-appointed for a second five-year term. There is no limit to the number of terms a UNSG can serve; however, no one has held the office for more than two terms.
In the context of the U.N., “COP” stands for “Conference of Parties.” It refers to the 198 parties that have ratified the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. This includes 197 countries plus the European Union and constitutes near universal membership. The host country of the COP rotates among the five U.N. regional groups with regional group members determining which country from their region will make an offer to host. Preventing “dangerous” human interference with the climate system is the main aim of the UNFCCC. Their conferences, held yearly, are the world’s only multilateral decision-making forum on climate change. The group reviews progress made toward goals and discusses and determines further actions to address the crisis of global warming.
The first COP was held in 1995 in Berlin, Germany. The last three COPs have been held in countries considered major fossil fuel producers; Egypt (COP27), United Arab Emirates (COP28) and most recently Azerbaijan (COP29), raising concerns about a conflict of interest.
These host nations can prioritize their fossil fuel interests over strong climate action, potentially allowing fossil fuel lobbyists significant influence during the negotiations. In fact, COP29 opened with a minister’s defense of fossil fuels and 1,880 fossil fuel industry lobbyists attended. This number exceeds the number of delegates attending for each of the five permanent member nations of the Security Council (China — 969, France — 649, Russian Federation — 900, United Kingdom — 470, USA — 405). COP29, originally scheduled for 12 days, was extended to finalize critical but chaotic negotiations especially concerning the amount of funding for a “Loss and Damages Fund” that came out of COP28. These funds are to be paid by countries and corporations that have caused the problem to help the undeveloped countries that have been impacted. But the final amount approved was inadequate and will not be disbursed for years. Other issues not resolved were postponed to be taken up next year.
The ninth and current UNSG is Antonio Guterres who took office in January 2017 and was re-appointed to a second term. Guterres was born in Lisbon, Portugal and graduated from the Instituto Superior Tecnico with an engineering degree. He has served in Portugal’s Parliament as well as its Prime Minister and as U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees. Guterres, who is fluent in four languages, has made over a hundred speeches about the climate emergency and has regularly called out governments and companies for adding “fuel to the flames of climate change.” Many of his speeches can be viewed on YouTube. His message is that countries must find the will to address the threat of global warming. He has emphasized that 1.5 degrees C is an important tipping point and the need for action to prevent it is unprecedented. Guterres often emphasizes the fact that those least responsible for the problem are hardest hit by the consequences. He believes it is not too late to take action but that it will require maximum global cooperation. A speech he delivered June 5, 2024, titled:“Special Address on Climate Action: A Moment Of Truth,” includes a doable global climate action plan. Guterres’s command of the English language is excellent, but his accent, at least to my ears, seems to mispronounce the word “fuel” as “fool.” It is unintentional, but entertaining and seems accurate.
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Giulia Mannarino of Belleville, is a grandmother concerned about her two granddaughters’ futures and a member of Mid-Ohio Valley Climate Action.