News 24 November 2024
As the UN climate negotiations at COP29 closed in Baku, the Clean Air Fund is both heartened by progress and frustrated by unmet expectations in the final deal. We welcome the agreement of the new climate finance goal, although the amount agreed does not come close to meeting the scale of the needs of low- and middle-income countries.
Despite recognition of the need for action on super pollutants as “our emergency brake for the climate emergency”, they were largely absent from COP commitment texts.
COP29 demonstrated the urgent need for more decisive leadership and strategic funding to address the critical intersection of toxic air, human health, and climate change. We hope the steps taken in Baku particularly on global climate finance will transform into giant strides forward in Belém. We look forward to working with the COP30 Presidency to accelerate meaningful action on air pollution and super pollutants.
Jane Burston, CEO of Clean Air Fund
New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) falls short
While we welcome the agreement of an NCQG at COP29, the pledge clearly does not meet the scale of the need. The pledge of at least $300 billion annually by 2035 falls significantly short of the trillions of dollars needed to support low- and middle-income countries to address the climate crisis.
To ensure the limited funding available creates the greatest impact possible, climate projects should incorporate air quality action in their design wherever possible. This will maximise investments by delivering benefits to climate, health and economies, as well as ensuring action reaches the most affected communities.
The funding, in particular grants and concessional finance, needs to be directed to the most polluted countries, ensuring an equitable, impactful response.
Fossil fuel commitments need to go further
Fossil fuels are responsible for the majority of global air pollution. A staggering 85% of all air pollution worldwide comes from burning fossil fuels and biomass, driving both the climate crisis and public health emergencies. That’s why we urge governments to accelerate a full, fair and fast phase-out of fossil fuels to drastically reduce pollution and save lives. The distinct lack of mention in COP decisions texts of fossil fuels as the source of climate change is regrettable.
Super pollutants in the spotlight
We welcome the increased focus on slashing the emissions of methane, a potent short-lived greenhouse gas dubbed “our emergency brake in the climate emergency” by the UN. A forgotten greenhouse gas linked to methane, tropospheric ozone, was in the spotlight for the first time at the climate negotiations.
The leadership shown by the US, China and Azerbaijan at the Summit on Methane and Non-CO2 Greenhouse Gases was encouraging and backed by the UK’s Secretary of State for Energy, Security and Net Zero, Ed Miliband MP. See also the commitments made by several multinational businesses at the US-China Summit.
Despite the greater attention on climate super pollutants on the sidelines of COP29, they are largely absent from the decision texts. More attention must be directed to addressing all super pollutants, including black carbon, which are collectively responsible for half of global warming to date. Super pollutants must be a top priority for COP30 next year, with meaningful commitments to turn down the heat in an ever-warming climate.
Countries must now follow up by integrating super pollutants into their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). These should be additional, ambitious, economy-wide targets with plans for implementation. This is an opportunity to show climate leadership, while delivering clean air and public health benefits. Integrating air pollution and super pollutants like black carbon into NDCs is a way to maximise climate, health and economic outcomes.
