COP29’s Broken Promises: What $300B Means for the Global South—and Why It’s Not Enough
Now, we must step-up in tackling energy poverty and achieving climate change goals
By Simon Doble
COP29's $300 billion pledge to combat energy poverty falls far short of the $1.3 trillion needed to meet global climate change goals. As extreme weather devastates vulnerable communities, this climate action example highlights why governments, corporations, and individuals must step up. We must bridge the gap in the fight against energy poverty to achieve lasting impact.
Source: COP 29
As COP29—the latest round of international climate change negotiations—concluded in Baku, Azerbaijan, last week, now is a good time to assess its effects on our fight to end energy poverty.
The outcome that gained the most attention was the pledge by developed nations to deliver $300 billion annually by 2035, aimed at helping developing countries tackle climate change impacts and shift to low-carbon economies. This is tripling the previous goal.
But as you might have already registered, this is not enough.
Developed nations are responsible for most of the climate pollution and carbon emissions that are heating up the planet and leading to devastating impacts. Crises like floods, extreme storms, heatwaves, hurricanes, or any other extreme weather events are hitting developing nations disproportionately.
It is no surprise that some of the most affected nations walked out of the negotiations. “$300 billion till 2035 is a joke. And it's not something we should take lightly. I do not think it's something we should clap her hand and force us to take it.” said the Nigerian negotiator, Nkiruka Maduekwe.
“This document is little more than an optical illusion. The amount (...) is abysmally poor. It’s a paltry sum.” added Leena Nandan, the delegate from India.
When your home is burning, you have a right to be angry
It is not a surprise that developing nations are angry. In our field missions, we are regularly witnessing devastating extreme weather events plaguing the nations that are worst affected by energy poverty.
Heavy rains and severe flooding are leading to displacements and disruptions in energy infrastructure in Papua New Guinea, where we work regularly. Cambodia faced a severe drought in 2021, attributed to changing climate patterns significantly reducing hydropower generation, which the country heavily relies on. Extreme flooding is devastating South Sudan’s energy infrastructure.
The same is happening all over the world: the island nations, India, Madagascar, the Dominican Republic, Kenya, Tanzania, Sri Lanka… All nations that are severely affected by energy poverty.
COP29: Closing its eyes before worsening climate change
The COP29 pledge fell short of the firm $1.3 trillion that developing countries have campaigned for years to secure. This is the annual figure these nations would need to be able to cope with these devastating climate change impacts.
We need to wake up. As the world continues to fall short on its commitments to reducing emissions, these effects are only going to get worse.
In October this year, scientists published a report highlighting that we are not doing enough to address the climate emergency. Climate change is moving into its irreversible phase; 25 of 35 planetary vital signs are at record levels, emissions are still increasing, and we are far beyond the 1.5°C warming target.
And COP29 did not help in any significant way. On the contrary, it only highlighted gaps in achieving the 1.5°C target. And let’s not forget that countries can still opt out or not ratify these commitments on home turf. This has happened multiple times in the past.
It’s our duty to fill the gaps
So what now? Since government commitments are falling short, it is our duty to fill the gaps. Corporations, charities, organisations and us as individuals.
The people affected by the adverse effects of climate change and energy poverty are just like us. I saw this with my own eyes when I visited refugee camps and lived in the same conditions as these people. I see it when I go to rural communities in Africa or South Asia that are cutoff from the outside world and their only livelihoods are threatened by climate change.
We have the solutions— decentralised renewable energy systems, solar-powered micro-grids, community solar farms, or individual solar-powered devices.
The technology is there.
They have their hopes, dreams, and worries, just like us. They did not choose to live in the situations they are living in. Yet they should have the same basic needs met, just like us.
They should be able to cook, study, and play, free of deadly toxic fumes. They should be able to access healthcare, have safe drinking water, reliable education, safe communities, or means of accessing information and communication. All of this depends on their access to energy.
And it’s not our duty just from a moral perspective; the ability of children to study directly affects their chances for a better future and for these communities to secure a better path forward. For the ability of all of us to solve climate change.
We need to step up where governments fall short
For energy poverty, we have the solutions—decentralised renewable energy systems, solar-powered mini- or micro-grids, community solar farms, or individual solar-powered devices.
The technology is there; and it is proven to work. They are proven to withstand climate impacts much better than centralised grids. They can be deployed quickly and effectively.
I always knew that we have a duty to help people living in these difficult conditions. But it took me getting to a difficult situation myself to fully wake up to the realities of energy poverty and dedicate my mission to solving this problem. And from my experience over the past 13 years, I know that we can solve this issue.
We have started SolarBuddy to prove it can be done. Every day, we’re working hard to spread the word about energy poverty, secure funding, build more lights and energy systems, assemble and ship them, and deliver them to those in need.
But if we want to step up where the government commitments are falling short, we need your help.
To spread the word about our mission and the realities of energy poverty. To secure donations. To inform companies and employers about this need and align their missions with more than profit. To dedicate their resources to action. To build new partnerships and collaborate to ramp up our efforts.
I’m sure we will make it happen.
Join us in our mission to eradicate energy poverty. For more, visit: www.solarbuddy.org
- Simon
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