World leaders meet for climate talks, but big names missing
World leaders gathered in Azerbaijan on Tuesday for the COP29 climate summit, though notable figures from major nations are absent, affecting the tone of the discussions.
Only a few G20 leaders, representing countries responsible for almost 80% of global greenhouse gas emissions, are present in Baku. Among them is UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who emphasized the UK government’s commitment to climate action. 'For us, climate security is national security,' UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband affirmed on social media.
High-profile leaders, including US President Joe Biden, China’s Xi Jinping, India’s Narendra Modi, and France’s Emmanuel Macron, are missing from the summit. The absence of key figures has heightened concerns about the future of unified global climate action, particularly following Donald Trump's recent election victory in the US Washington's top climate envoy attempted to reassure attendees, suggesting that US climate efforts would persist even if they receive less emphasis.
UN Climate Chief Simon Stiell urged countries to maintain global cooperation, opening the summit with a call for solidarity. However, the conference's start faced delays due to disagreements over the official agenda, slowing formal talks at the venue near the Caspian Sea.
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