By Len Port

Portugal has been contributing positively in its own way to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from November 11 to 22, 2024. Unfortunately, the conference, which concludes Friday, has been mired in controversy and has failed so far in reaching essential international cooperation.

Portugal came to the summit with a revised and more ambitious Energy and Climate Plan to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045. It has its own on-site pavilion and is hosting 55 presentations and debates over the current 11-day COP period on a number of major issues, including the need for more climate action, present and future energy supplies, resource efficiency, water and biodiversity. The Portuguese pavilion is also holding join initiates with the international community of Portuguese-speaking countries, as well as European institutions.

All of Portugal’s priorities are in line with those of the European Union. The prime focus is on meeting the pledges made in the 2015 COP21 Paris Agreement to limit global temperature rises to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

The latest focus is on insisting that the world’s richest countries and biggest greenhouse gas emitters pay sufficient funds to the poorer countries that are being critically impacted by global warming, causing desertification, lack of food, drinking water and other essentials. One figure being bandied about is 100 billion dollars or more, per year, but the rich countries are reluctant to pay up for the pain they have been, and still are, causing.

Leading Portugal’s COP29 delegation, Minister of Energy and Environment, Maria d Graça Carvalho, has noted Portugal’s wish to help transform millions paid to former colonies from their national debts into funding climate investment. She has emphasized that, “To move forward globally in terms of climate change, it is fundamental that we increase the funding target for climate change, broadening the range of contributors for this. Currently, some of the biggest polluters in the world are not doing enough. The European Union has led this effort with funding and clear policies. Now we want to see the other major blocs and nations matching our level of commitment.”

Meanwhile, It is hard to understand what can be achieved at this year’s United Nations COP29,  summit with many leaders absent as global cooperation is vital if we are to greatly lower greenhouse gas emissions, and keep the world’s average surface temperature to no warmer than 1.5C  (2.7F) pre-industrial levels.

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Opinion | United Nations Climate Change Conference faces a daunting challenge – Len Port

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Len Port, born in Northern Ireland, worked as a news reporter and correspondent, mainly in Hong Kong and South Africa, before moving to Portugal many years ago.