COP29 in Baku starts with world leaders climate action summit
On 12 November, world leaders gathered in Baku, Azerbaijan, for the world leaders climate action summit kicking off the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29).
The EU was represented by European Council President Charles Michel. In his address to the COP29 plenary, President Charles Michel called for an ambitious new collective quantified goal. He insisted on the shared responsibility for the climate crisis and the need to expand the donor base that will contribute to achieving the collective goal.
“The world is on a knife-edge: Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the war in Gaza and the tragic crisis in the Middle East, civil wars in Sudan,” Charles Michel said. “These and many other conflicts are causing humanitarian disasters for civilian populations and polarising our societies around the world. Violent imperialism, eternal vengeance and collective punishment are poisons that endanger us all.”
Charles Michel added that in 2023, the EU and its 27 member states contributed €28.6 billion in climate finance, and encouraged others to follow suit, including the G7 and emerging economies.
“We must choose the survival instinct over collective suicide. And take action for a fair and inclusive transition. The EU is up to the challenge,” said the European Council President.
The summit was also attended by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of Moldova Maia Sandu, Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Kobakhidze and Alexander Lukashenko, Head of Belarus.
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Remarks by President Charles Michel at the World Leaders Climate Action summit in Baku
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