The ninth edition of The Lancet Countdown report offers a grim update on how climate change is affecting global health. Extreme heat, prolonged droughts, and intense rainfall are increasingly impacting people’s well-being worldwide, leading to heat-related deaths, disease outbreaks, and worsening air pollution. While fossil fuel pollution deaths have slightly decreased, the report calls for urgent, systemic changes to protect health and mitigate further climate risks as we approach COP29.
The announcement of Azerbaijan as the host of COP29 has ignited intense debate over the appropriateness of a nation heavily dependent on fossil fuels leading such a critical climate conference. While hosting COP29 offers Azerbaijan an opportunity to signal its commitment to addressing climate change, its entrenched reliance on oil and gas, alongside an underwhelming environmental record, raises significant concerns about its ability to champion meaningful progress. This article examines the complexities of Azerbaijan’s role as host, considering its economic reliance on fossil fuels, ecological challenges, and the potential for transformative change if international pressure and scrutiny are applied effectively.
As the world approaches COP29 in Azerbaijan, the United Nations has released a sobering assessment of global climate action that has sent shockwaves through the international community. The report reveals that greenhouse gas concentrations have reached unprecedented levels in Earth’s atmosphere, with current emission reduction commitments falling drastically short of international targets. The projected 2.6% decrease in emissions by 2030 represents a fraction of the 43% reduction mandated by the Paris Agreement, highlighting a dangerous gap between ambition and action in the fight against climate change.