‘The fight for climate justice is far from over’

Open Statement from YMCA Youth Climate Ambassadors in Baku, Azerbaijan at the close of COP29

The outcome of COP29 has left many feeling deeply disheartened, especially in nations most vulnerable to the climate crisis. The agreed-upon USD 300 billion adaptation fund is a big advance and a record sum – but it is far from the USD 1.3 trillion requested by Civil Society, youth coalitions and Developing Countries—a figure they described as the bare minimum to address their urgent needs. Panama’s negotiator called this agreement “a death sentence,” reflecting the frustration and despair of those whose lives are already on the line. In protest, the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) briefly walked out of the final Plenary session in Baku, only to return to a deal that fails to meet their demands.

The process leading to this deal has cast doubt on the integrity of multilateral negotiations. India’s raised objection to the adoption of the text, supported by Bolivia, Cuba, Nigeria, and the LDCs, was brushed aside, with their concerns merely “noted” by the Presidency—a decision likely to diminish their impact to a footnote. Adding to the controversy, there were accusations of nations trying to alter official Presidency texts, a move that should not have been possible under established Protocols. This breach of trust highlighted the undue influence of fossil fuel states and further eroded confidence in the process.

COP29 starkly demonstrated the widening divisions in global climate efforts. A handful of wealthy, powerful nations prioritized their interests at the expense of the poorest. Multilateralism, already strained in a world grappling with conflict and economic debt, faltered under the weight of these divisions. However, amidst the disappointment, hope remains. Civil society and some governments have called for a renegotiation of the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) next year in Brazil, signalling that the fight for climate justice is far from over.

The road ahead demands collective action and difficult conversations. Achieving a just and sustainable future will require dismantling entrenched ideologies and embracing global unity. While the failures of COP29 are disheartening, the determination of those advocating for climate justice persists. The voices of people demanding a fairer, more equitable world must not be silenced. Hope endures, and so does the fight for a better future.

It is that hope which galvanises the global YMCA Movement to continue to lobby for climate justice on behalf of young people – on behalf of all people. A small YMCA team attending COP29 in Baku was the 8^th such team since COP 21 in Paris in 2015. YMCA will again join the ranks of civil society at COP 30 in Belem, Brazil in November 2025. Hope endures.