COP29 Feminist Reflections: A Recap and Reflection on Justice, Movements, and Finance
by Shady Khalil
At COP29, the focus on climate finance—particularly the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG)—was a critical lifeline for the world’s most vulnerable communities. These are the communities already grappling with rising seas, devastating droughts, and the relentless consequences of a crisis they did not create.
The stakes could not have been higher. Finance has always been the Achilles’ heel of global climate negotiations. Without adequate funding, adaptation remains a pipe dream, mitigation falters, and loss and damage go unaddressed.
As I walked through the bustling halls of COP29, surrounded by the whirlwind of negotiations, protests, and impassioned debates, I found myself reflecting on a passage by Nawal El Saadawi. Her words from “The Hidden Face of Eve” came rushing back to me: “The exploitation, whether by patriarchal systems, imperialist nations, or economic forces, feeds off the silence and submission of the oppressed. To resist is to reclaim power and dignity.” Despite the betrayals and challenges of COP29, it was equally inspiring to see how we, as a movement came together, to reclaim power guided by many of the values and work that feminists within the climate movement have championed for years.
Decolonizing Climate Action: Confronting Colonialism and Neocolonialism at COP29
One of the most poignant moments at COP29 was the global conversation on Gaza. Fossil fuels, the backbone of oppressive systems, are enabling Israel’s genocide in Gaza. The call for an energy embargo on Israel resonated through various actions and panel discussions. Activists from across the globe demanded an end to fossil fuels flowing to entities complicit in Israel’s aggression in Gaza and its invasion of Lebanon.
While, Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, which governs carbon markets and offset mechanisms, was another contentious topic. These mechanisms allow richer nations and the fossil fuel industry to offset their emissions by funding projects in poorer countries, often resulting in land grabs and the displacement of vulnerable communities. At COP29, the dominance of technocratic solutions—from carbon markets to vague net-zero pledges—drew sharp rebukes. Technocratic fixes like carbon markets deflect from the urgent need for systemic change—the phaseout of fossil fuels and halting their expansion everywhere. Fossil fuels are one of the primary drivers of climate change, and COP28 already achieved a global consensus on the need to phase them out to stay aligned with the 1.5°C target. What we need now are Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) that unequivocally commit to halting fossil fuel expansion and reject harmful distractions. These national plans must prioritize bold, direct action to end fossil fuels dependency rather than relying on false solutions that offer delays and excuses.
Finance as a Battlefield: Debt, Inequality, and Stalling
At the heart of COP29’s discussions was the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance. This was meant to replace the outdated $100 billion annual target and establish a financial framework that meets the scale of today’s climate challenges. For the Global South, this wasn’t merely a negotiation about numbers; it was a fight for survival and justice. While countries and activists from the Global South demanded figures that reflect the urgency of the climate crisis, the richest countries agreed to mobilize $300 billion annually by 2035—a figure that falls far short of the actual need and raises concerns about the reliance on loans and private financing rather than public, grant-based support. An Independent High-Level Expert Group (IHLEG) estimated that developing countries require $1 trillion annually by 2030 and $1.3 trillion by 2035 for effective climate action, exposing the glaring gap between pledges and actual needs.
Activists and Global South countries stood united, resolute, and aligned on what is essential: finance that is accessible, reparative, and just. Grants, not loans. Local control, not corporate-driven investments. Redistribution, not exploitation. Anything less is a grave injustice to the communities bearing the brunt of climate devastation. Unfortunately, this negotiation failed to meet these demands, delivering betrayals instead of justice. With no subgoals, insufficient funding and a risk of debt-based instruments.
Yet, the most powerful outcome remains our unity as activists and Global South nations. This collective strength is our foundation and the force we will continue to build upon.
The Path Forward: Transformative Movements, Not Incremental Fixes
COP29 was a sobering reminder of the challenges that remain. The richest countries’ insistence on delivering mere scraps of what is needed and owed in finance commitments, their fixation on technocratic solutions, and their resistance to systemic change highlighted the urgent need for transformative movements. We are not just resisting exploitation; We are reimagining a world where justice is the norm, not the exception.
As I left COP29, I carried with me a mix of anger and hope. Anger at the systems that continue to fail us. Hope in the movements that refuse to give up. Feminism, with its relentless commitment to intersectionality and systemic change, is not just a lens through which to view the climate crisis. It is a roadmap for how we fight it. At COP29, I saw glimpses of the world we are fighting for in my colleagues and friends—a world that is equitable, sustainable, and just. And I know it’s a world worth fighting for.
