Sitting in Baku, Feeling Disheartened
I find myself in a state of distress, exhaustion, disappointment, and eagerness to leave Baku behind as I wait to depart. This is not a typical sentiment for me when visiting foreign lands. While Baku and Azerbaijan are visually stunning, the people are hospitable, and my next destination offers some relief, I am at a loss for words to convey my experience to those back home.
The recent COP event has left me with a heavy heart. It was a missed opportunity for transformative climate finance, recommitting to goals, and moving towards a just transition. Instead, it felt like a platform for oil tycoons and a display of the apathy of Global North countries towards the rest of the world. It seems like we have doomed the world to a fiery fate.
A Bleak Reality
The negotiations at COP were exhausting, both physically and emotionally. As discussions dragged on through the night, people grew weary, and the outcome was disappointing. The lack of progress on climate finance goals was disheartening, especially considering the urgency of the crisis we face. The world is now on a path of inaction for the next decade, and the consequences are dire.
