While we are witnessing an ever-escalating cascade of climate disasters, leaders from the world’s most polluting countries were conspicuously absent from COP29, the United Nations’ annual climate conference.
Others boycotted the conference because of host country Azerbaijan’s rampant human rights abuses, particularly its ethnic cleansing of Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh last year. Papua New Guinea called the conference “a total waste of time.” Meanwhile, Azerbaijan appointed Elnur Soltanov, the head of its state energy company Socar, as its chief executive to the conference. Soltanov appeared to use the occasion as a forum to cut deals with international petroleum corporations.
Nonetheless, there were still over 65,000 registered delegates – making it the second largest in COP’s history. One of those delegates was Chief Wesley Sam from BC’s Ts’il Kaz Koh Nation.
The Nation reached Chief Sam during his first “conference of parties” (COP) in Baku, Azerbaijan, after a journey he said took four flights. As chairperson of K’uul Power, a First Nations-led organization pursuing the development of renewable energy projects, he is negotiating with BC Hydro to own a transmission line cutting through several Indigenous territories.
“I’m just coming from an event with beautiful wind, solar, earth-based projects and carbon-capture systems,” Sam told the Nation. “First Nations are an absolute key to the success in green energy projects. It’s time to heal.”
Sam is optimistic that green energy solutions will power the future. “Our youth are getting very engaged – we call them K’uul kids,” he enthused. “I’d like to bring my youth to the next one so they can start ground-pounding like I am.”
Climate change has ravaged his region with forest fires, disappearing salmon stocks and a devastating pine beetle epidemic. At COP29, Sam noted that Indigenous peoples worldwide are facing similar issues yet doing what they can locally to make a difference.
“This shows we’re not alone in this fight,” Sam asserted. “It’s us that have to clean it up. What will come out of this is worth the time and energy. There’s a chance we can help steer the ship.”
He joined the First Nations Climate Initiative (FNCI) delegation in Baku to showcase Indigenous partnerships in zero-emission and low-carbon energy projects. FNCI is pitching liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a potential emissions solution for Asian steel and shipping industries.
However, critics like LNG senior strategist John Young from Climate Action Network have stated LNG has 33% more emissions than coal when shipping, production and methane leaks are considered. FNCI maintains that its responsible production and monitoring process can contribute to decarbonization and Indigenous economic self-determination.
After the last summit’s historic pledge to transition away from fossil fuels, oil giants like Saudi Arabia have attempted to sidestep commitments, alleging they were “an option” rather than a goal. The major focus at COP29 was climate finance, with demands that rich countries to help poor countries pay for their fossil fuel transition and cope with climate change repercussions.
As talks entered their final days, hopes for confirming the $1 trillion annually demanded by developing countries were diminishing. Indigenous voices at COP29 were vastly outnumbered by fossil fuel lobbyists. But they were adamant be heard, asserting they look after 80% of the world’s remaining biodiversity but receive less than 1% of global climate finance.
“Sea level rise is eating us up,” said Flora Vano from the South Pacific island state of Vanuatu. “It threatens our food security, contaminates our water source, infrastructure is destroyed and the increase in gender-based violence goes sky high.”
Many Indigenous peoples are alarmed by the prospect of carbon credit trading without adequate safeguards and transparency, as these projects have already resulted in land grabs and rights violations. While some leaders suggested these initiatives have potential to support First Nations communities, they affirmed their fundamental rights must be paramount.
Indigenous delegates like Panama’s Giuseppe Olo Villalaz believed this conference was an opportunity to prepare for next year’s climate gathering in the Brazilian Amazon where more decisive commitments are expected.
At COP29, Indigenous leaders from Brazil, Australia and the Pacific joined forces to demand shared leadership of future climate talks. Meanwhile, in Rio de Janeiro where the G20 meeting was taking place, Brazil’s Indigenous movement launched a campaign called “The Answer Is Us” and demanded official co-presidency at COP30.