Feminist Reflections on COP29: No money for climate justice and human rights, but enough to fuel war and genocide

Lack of Transparency Undermining Multilateralism 

While we hoped this smaller COP would mean less circus and more focus on inclusive and ambitious climate action, reality has shown increasing lack of transparency and exclusion of observers and certain Parties. Many negotiations were held behind closed doors, with critical decisions released by the presidency at the eleventh hour following selective consultations primarily with Global North parties.

This bilateral tone was set from the opening plenary when the operationalization of Article 6.4, specifically activities involving removals and methodology, was adopted without negotiation –a clear bypass of CMA multilateralism processes. This dangerous precedent threatens perilous on-ground outcomes. Without safeguards, monitoring, and protections of gender rights, Indigenous Peoples, and local communities, the already distracting false solution of carbon markets risks being hijacked by profiteering “carbon cowboys” indifferent to climate action and human rights. 

Climate Finance: Another Cog in the International Colonialist Order 

The failure of the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) adds another layer of deep concern for the future of our world and wellbeing. While Global North media blames Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries like Saudi Arabia for stalling and manipulating negotiations–an attempt to redirect attention from their own lack of political will and divide the Global South–those on the ground witnessed the strength and vigor of the Global South blocs such as the Arab Group and G77+China. Allies of the PayUp campaign, they stood firm in demanding a minimum of $1.3 trillion for the NCQG. In response, the Global North resorted to unfounded naming and shaming while fervently pushing back against an adequate NCQG–sorely needed to address adaptation and loss and damage. 

Broken promises and abdication of historical responsibility have eroded trust the multilateral climate process. Acts of bad faith and repeated attempts to disrupt texts grounded in core principles–such as common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capacities (CBDR-RC), equity, and justice–undermine the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).  In an egregious display of power dynamics, the Global North shoved this bad deal down the throats of the South, presenting it in a take-it-or-leave-it manner. 

The NCQG fall short not only in its inadequate quantity but also in its lack of quality and accountability in the contributor base. The exclusion of the Convention in the decision’s preamble and the absence of grant-based provisions exemplify the intentional reproduction of systemic failures. The provision of $300 bn itself is not guaranteed, let alone in the grant-based manner needed. We know this story all too well: climate finance is wielded as a tool to reinforce existing systems of colonialism and debt creation. 

To make matters worse, the NCQG excludes loss and damage—a critical omission as emissions and fossil fuel investments push us toward a projected 3°C temperature rise by the end of the century. With the Loss and Damage and Adaptation Funds largely empty, this exclusion demonstrates again the Global North’s continued refusal to take responsibility for the catastrophic damage and suffering it has caused. 

Despite UNFCCC and Global North claims of “tripling climate finance”, inflation-adjusted figures reveal it is worse than the unfulfilled 2009 $100 billion goal. For perspective, the $300bn proposed under the NCQG represents a mere 12% of the $2.4 trillion spent on militarism in 2023 alone. Yet, the North has the audacity to claim that the GCC is the hurdle to effective climate action. 

Without excluding carbon markets, market-based loans, and export credit, climate finance will not address the impacts but rather sustain them. Highlighting the roles of multilateral development banks (MDBs) and the private sector, without incorporating human rights safeguards, will only deepen debt, privatization, and policy conditionalities, such as austerity measures, further worsening inequality and human rights violations. This will also reproduce enablers for the North and corporations to exploit Southern resources while exposing human rights to the mercy of MDBs and private entities with long histories of abuse. These actors intentionally create vulnerabilities in Global South communities, facilitating systemic resource exploitation—a threat now set to escalate further.

After two weeks of negotiations without a quantum in the text, the NCQG was adopted without opening the floor for objections, despite prior explicit requests by Parties–yet another blow to multilateralism. Nevertheless, Cuba, India, and Kenya took the floor to voice their objections, emphasizing the new decision text is not only insulting and completely unresponsive to the calls and needs of developing countries but also perpetuates environmental colonialism. The consequences of inadequate climate finance, compounded by a lack of mitigation ambition, are catastrophic. The most affected, and least responsible, will pay with their lives.

Gender justice for climate justice – but how without finance? 

At the same time, it’s hard to celebrate the 10-year renewal of the enhanced Lima work programme without the finance to operationalize it. Although COP29 was framed as the “Finance COP”, it was also the Gender COP. The win in the gender agenda is somewhat ironic considering it was not a priority for this year’s presidency. However, the Women & Gender Constituency’s fierce persistence not only brought it to the table but also resulted in a decision with a clear roadmap and actionable steps for the next gender action plan to be adopted at Belém. Without adequate finance, though, gender-transformative climate action will remain a theory –difficult to implement. 

Negotiations initially offered little hope for our collective rights. With surprising pushback on gender equality –almost as contentious as the fight in the finance rooms– we find that the current systems of power thriving on the climate crisis are exacerbating gender inequality and resisting the protection of human rights.  

You cannot have climate action without addressing the root causes, systems, and power structures that feed on inequity and injustice. Centering and investing in gender equality and gender responsiveness is a matter of survival for women, girls, and people with diverse sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics (SOGIESC).  Efforts to preserve “cultural values” among some Parties reproduce marginalization and make individuals and communities vulnerable by failing to acknowledge and uplift their rights. By denying the reality of our inherently diverse and intersectional world, they replicate systems and structures that marginalize these communities and make them vulnerable to climate impacts.

System change is coming from the movement 

“Leaving no one behind” has become an empty plaintiff. COP29 has once again shown the world that the North does not care about its historical responsibility or the reparations it owes for the damage and suffering inflicted. It is a death sentence to those who have been and continue to be failed by the present international political and economic system. 

The outcome decisions have only reinforced the systems of inequality and injustice that drive the climate crisis and exacerbate disparities. New chapter, same story of colonialism, extractivism, militarism, capitalism, and patriarchy. World leaders have let us down yet again.

 This is not a statement of despair – it is a call to action! I’m placing my bets on the people –on the climate movement deeply connected to all other movements 

The fight is far from over, and unity is stronger than ever. Our collective liberation, restoring environmental balance and human rights, is imminent.