PARIS: United Arab Emirates (UAE), Azerbaijan, and Brazil announced on Tuesday the formation of a “troika” to advocate for an international agreement aimed at limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. This initiative follows the hosting of past and upcoming UN climate conferences by the three nations, with the UAE hosting COP28 in 2023, Azerbaijan set to host COP29 this year, and Brazil slated to host COP30 in 2025.
The troika, mandated by the Dubai agreement signed by 198 nations, is tasked with developing a roadmap to achieve the critical climate goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Sultan Al Jaber, the president of COP28, emphasized the importance of collaboration and continuity in maintaining focus on this ambitious target, particularly in the face of escalating greenhouse gas emissions.
Despite current climate pledges, the world remains on track for significant warming, with UN estimates projecting a temperature increase between 2.5 and 2.9 degrees Celsius by the end of the century. However, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warns that the 1.5-degree limit could be breached as early as 2030-2035 without immediate and decisive action.
The troika partnership, as outlined in the COP28 agreement, aims to enhance international cooperation and stimulate ambition in the next round of nationally determined contributions, with the goal of scaling up climate action during this critical decade. At COP29 in Baku, addressing climate finance issues, including unblocking financial flows to developing countries, will be a central focus.
Developed countries’ delay in meeting their initial climate funding pledges, highlighted by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), underscores the urgent need to mobilize resources for climate adaptation and resilience in developing nations. COP29 president-designate Mukhtar Babayev reaffirmed the commitment to bridging the gap between developed and developing countries, emphasizing the importance of establishing a new climate finance goal aligned with the scale and urgency of the climate challenge.
The troika’s formation represents a collaborative effort to advance climate action and uphold the 1.5-degree Celsius limit, underscoring the collective responsibility to address the global climate crisis.
