The good, the bad and the ugly of Cop29: Asian leaders and climate advocates share their takeaways from the event

The need for engaging and accessible climate communication

Woo believes there’s a need for more accessible and engaging climate communication. Her experiences with creating comics to explain Cop29 demonstrate the public’s appetite for clear and digestible information. “Seeing the latest comic explainer that I did on Cop29 do its rounds on LinkedIn and Instagram gave me some indication that there is interest in breaking technical climate jargon down.”

She notes that complex topics can be made more understandable through creative mediums, leading to greater public engagement and awareness. This approach can empower individuals to take action and contribute to climate solutions. 

The rising importance of culture in climate action

The importance of information dissemination was apparent at this year’s event. “I always hear about the negotiations around finance, technology, mitigation, adaptation, transparency and carbon markets at Cops. But this year, there was a noticeable shift to include cultural heritage and creative communications,” she says.

She adds that she also learnt that “climate change education, training, public awareness, public participation and public access to information” was enshrined in Article 12 of the Paris Agreement, which was passed at Cop21. To her, this “essentially provides credence to the role of culture in climate action”. 

Southeast Asia’s potential in climate communication

Woo emphasises that Southeast Asia has much to offer to the global climate communication landscape. She hopes to bring the region’s unique approaches and initiatives to the forefront.

“Seeing this rising tide of culture players present at Cop29 and trying to make meaning of these processes and issues to a wider public fills me with a lot of hope for my advocacy and role as a climate communicator. I hope to find ways to bring Southeast Asia’s art, media and communications approaches and initiatives to these platforms because so much amazing climate communications work is happening here, even if we don't formally call it that.”

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Natalie Chung, a climate advocate and social entrepreneur, was the sole representative from Hong Kong at the 2023 Antarctic Climate Expedition led by prominent marine biologist and oceanographer Dr Sylvia Earle. She attended Cop29 not only as an advocate but also as a documentarian, working with Hong Kong public broadcaster RTHK to produce a film about the event and the complexities of sustainability in Azerbaijan, the host country.

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A call for a “blue economy”

Chung’s keynote speech at Extreme Hangout, a breakout space for dialogues and big ideas at Cop29, drew from her Antarctic experiences to highlight the crucial role of the ocean in climate action. In her speech, she argued for a “blue economy” approach, emphasising the need to view the ocean as a key player in carbon sequestration and a source of innovative solutions, adding: “Traditional climate action focuses on land-based solutions, neglecting the role of the ocean being nature’s single biggest carbon sink.”

Chung has also called for increased investment in ocean conservation and the development of ocean-based climate solutions, urging venture capitalists to play a more active role in funding these initiatives.

Shifting power dynamics in climate governance

At Cop29, Chung has also observed a notable shift in global climate governance, with China and the Global South stepping up to fill the leadership vacuum left by the potential US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement. 

She highlights the growing influence of countries like Brazil, the host of the upcoming Cop30, and their commitment to rainforest protection and renewable energy.

Chung believes that Asian financial hubs like Hong Kong and Singapore have a key role to play in supporting these efforts by leveraging their expertise in green finance and green bond issuance.

Youth at the forefront of climate negotiations

Chung is particularly encouraged by the strong presence of young people actively participating in climate negotiations at Cop29. She praises initiatives like the Youth Negotiators Academy, which provides free training to empower young people, including those from conflict zones, to become effective negotiators and advocates for their countries.

Chung sees this as a vital step towards ensuring that future generations have a seat at the table in shaping climate policy.

Read more: Young people are getting angrier about climate change—and that anger may yet save us

Rodne Galicha, the executive director of Living Laudato Si' Philippines and a prominent climate activist, attended Cop29 with high hopes for meaningful progress on climate finance, particularly for vulnerable communities. However, he left with a sense of disappointment, echoing the sentiments of many who felt that Cop29 fell short of expectations.

The unmet need for just and fair climate finance

Galicha has expressed his deep frustration with the lack of progress on climate finance, particularly the failure to establish a robust mechanism for loss and damage funding.

“We hoped that Cop29 would deliver a just and fair climate finance goal... it was not delivered,” he says. He criticises the inadequate financial commitments from developed countries, emphasising that the agreed-upon amount falls far short of what is needed to address the escalating impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities.

Read more: Environmental activists Anna Oposa and Rodne Galicha on safeguarding sustainability

The interconnection of resource exploitation, conflict and climate injustice

Galicha draws a stark connection between the exploitation of natural resources, particularly fossil fuels, and the perpetuation of wars and conflicts. He argues that developed countries’ addiction to fossil fuels fuels conflicts and drives unsustainable resource extraction, with devastating consequences for both people and the planet. 

He adds, “We need to make our governments accountable especially those which have been involved. The poor and the marginalised continue to suffer in this scheme of things, which promotes greed for resources and power. There is no climate justice without human and environmental rights.” 

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Pornphrom Vikitsreth, advisor to the Governor and chief sustainability officer of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, brings a city-level perspective to Cop29. Having also attended last year’s conference, Vikitsreth is keenly aware of the increasing role cities play in addressing climate change and driving sustainable solutions.   

Cities as key actors in climate action

Vikitsreth highlights the growing recognition of cities as crucial players in achieving global climate goals. “Cities generate 80 per cent of global GDP (Gross Domestic Product) and account for 70 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions,” he emphasises, underscoring the need for city-level commitments to drive meaningful change.

He stresses the importance of cities taking action in key sectors like transportation and energy, which are major contributors to urban emissions. He also notes the significance of platforms like the C40 Cities network, which brings together mayors worldwide and provides a space for cities to collaborate and share best practices.   

Fostering city-to-city collaboration

In that light, at Cop29, Vikitsreth is focused on fostering city-to-city collaborations. He highlights a joint initiative between Bangkok and Yokohama, Japan, focused on sharing knowledge and expertise in areas like energy planning, renewable energy promotion, waste management and green space development. This partnership, soon to be formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding, exemplifies the potential for cities to learn from each other and drive innovation through collaborative efforts.

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