During the first term of the 2024/2025 Academic Year, Cari-Bois partnered with the Scotiabank Foundation to empower ten (10) students with climate journalism skills as part of the second edition of Cari-Bois’ Youth Journalism Project. For their third assignment, students wrote a story on the importance of the United Nations Climate Conference to Small Island Developing States. This story was written by Naomi Williams of Roxborough Secondary School.
The United Nations Climate Change Conference is an annual meeting where countries come together to tackle climate change which is one of the world’s biggest environmental crises.
More commonly known as the Conference of the Parties (COP), these conferences allow governments to agree on policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate impacts.
In addition to working together to reduce emissions, countries attend these conferences to also reflect on the progress of their climate goals and seek support for climate initiatives.
With these conferences requiring every country to agree on a final decision to be made, it is an example of how all countries – even Small Island Developing States (SIDS) like those in the Caribbean – have a platform to advocate for their needs at the conference.
One of the most noticeable agreements made to date at a Climate COP was the Paris Agreement.
Crafted at COP21 in 2015, the Paris Agreement saw 196 countries pledge to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
What has happened at recent COPs?
In 2023, Dubai hosted COP18 and while there was criticism of the country hosting the conference given it is an oil producing nation, there were some noticeable achievements.
At COP28, countries agreed on the need to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels, an Urban Nature Program was launched to support “greening” cities, and progress was made towards developing a new finance goal that would determine how much “developed” countries paid to “developing countries.”
Decisions were also made on exploring ocean-based climate solutions and carbon trading guidelines.
Climate Finance at COP29 in Azerbaijan
From November 11 – 22, the 29th United Nations Climate Conference (COP29) was held in Baku, Azerbaijan.
At this conference, climate finance for “developing” countries was placed at the forefront and “developed” countries agreed to providing 300 billion dollars annually to developing countries to assist with climate adaptation and loss and damage.
This decision is important to help SIDS, like countries in the Caribbean, overcome the adverse effects of climate change.
For SIDS, rising sea levels and extreme weather events can destroy homes, negatively affect the economy, and reduce the quality of life for people.
Climate change also increases the spread of diseases which put people’s health at risk.
For this reason, COPs are an important space to ensure countries of all sizes and backgrounds can work together to protect the planet, lives and culture from the devastating effects of climate change.
A very special thank you to the Scotiabank Foundation for supporting the development of young people through initiatives like the Cari-Bois Youth Journalism Project.
