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Over the weekend COP29 mercifully ended with an agreement for a $300 billion funding level, well below the $1 trillion being sought.
It also ended with a “do-over” on last year’s big agreement to “transition away from fossil fuels...”
The Saudi’s decided that “transition” was a bit too strong and blocked the language from this year’s proceedings.
But there was good news. In an open letter, a contingent leaders and researchers acknowledged that change is needed.
Their letter called for reforms saying that the current structure “simply cannot deliver the change at exponential speed and scale...”
Ya think? The current structure can’t deliver change period.
In any case, to create a better path, I offer 10 possible changes. Today, recommendations one through 5.
𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟭: 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟭.𝟱 𝗱𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗖 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲.
It’s counterproductive to continue thinking it’s possible. Set a new "stretch" but achievable target and develop a strategy to support achieving it.
𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝟮: 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴.
The current “honor system” creates a false sense of security where actual results fall well short of expectations. The argument against binding commitments is that countries will drop out. Maybe, or it may result in more realistic commitments. Regardless, even if countries drop out, we’ll know who’s serious and who isn’t.
𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟯: 𝗜𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺.
A financial penalty is the simplest way. Perhaps base it on a country’s GDP or other proportional method. Funds could be deposited in escrow to be withdrawn for non-compliance. The collected penalties could be used to fund underfunded programs.
𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟰: 𝗪𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗱𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀.
I prefer per capita metrics because they generally create a level playing field. However, there are undoubtedly many good measurements. The point is - select effective metrics that are to fair everyone.
𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝟱: 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹.
It’s a bad look for 70,000 people to add to emissions in the process of reducing emissions. COP can be example of how technology can be leveraged to address complex issues. The pandemic proved it's possible.
Tomorrow - recommendations 6 through 10.
#cop29 #climatechange #globalwarming #climategoals #climatechangeisreal