The 29th UN climate conference (COP29) began with world leaders discussing the devastating effects of climate change and calling for urgent global action. The meeting brought together over two dozen world leaders, many of whom shared firsthand experiences of climate-induced disasters in their countries. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif highlighted the deadly flooding in his nation, worsened by heavy monsoon rains linked to climate change.
He stressed that Pakistan has also faced deadly heatwaves, with temperatures soaring to 47°C (117°F) this year, causing thousands to suffer from heatstroke. Bahamas Prime Minister Philip Edward Davis spoke on behalf of vulnerable island nations facing mounting debt from climate-related catastrophes, such as Hurricanes Dorian (2019) and Matthew (2016), despite contributing minimally to global emissions. He, along with other leaders from the Global South, reiterated the need for financial assistance from wealthier nations, especially to help them recover and transition away from fossil fuels.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis discussed the brutal heatwaves that plagued southern Europe this summer, along with water shortages and the destruction of vital ecosystems. The ongoing crisis is exacerbated by years of below-average rainfall. Mitsotakis and other leaders from Italy, Tuvalu, Morocco, Russia, and the Holy See emphasized the importance of international solidarity and action to mitigate climate impacts.
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