COP29 President calls for 'compromise' as climate talks enter second week

Baku: The second week of the talks began with Azerbaijan, the COP29 presidency, outlining its plans for "clear and robust" outcomes that would deliver on the promises of the Paris Agreement, bridging the implementation gaps and enhancing ambition across all tracks. Reminding representatives from nearly 200 countries that "time is not on our side", COP29 president Mukhtar Babayev urged them to engage in a "spirit of cooperation and compromise".

To deliver a high ambition, balanced package of negotiated outcomes in Baku, the presidency has invited Brazil, which will be hosting the climate meet next year, and the UK, the last developed country to host the meeting, for support and advice. "Stakes are too high to allow procedural tactics or stale discussions to stand in the way of progress," said Babayev.

The message was reiterated by UN climate chief Simon Stiell. "We can't lose sight of the forest because we're tussling over individual trees. Nor can we afford an outbreak of 'you-first-ism'. Where groups of parties dig in and refuse to move on one issue until others move elsewhere."


This emphasis comes close on the heels on the discussion in plenary at the first week of negotiations, which saw countries venting their frustrations over the lack of progress on mitigation or emissions reduction and on finance. In its intervention on Saturday night, India spoke of its frustrations over the "an unwillingness of developed country parties to engage" on the issue of finance. Referring to implementing the outcomes of the global stock take particularly efforts to reduce emissions and to implement the energy transition, Samoa, which spoke on behalf of the small island states, said, "Many parties would like us to conveniently forget what we agreed or at least put it on hold indefinitely."

Babayev made it clear that no issue would be ignored. The pair of ministers-one from a developed and the other from a developing country-appointed to resolve issues have been asked to consult with countries over the next two days and report to the presidency.