THE global climate policy process is no longer fit for purpose and requires comprehensive overhaul, a group of prominent scientists, advocates and policy leaders said today. 

The urgent message in the open letter  to the United Nations comes as world leaders gather in the Azerbaijani capital Baku for the 29th Conference of the Parties climate summit (Cop29).

Signatories to the letter include former UN secretary-general Ban Ki Moon, Earth4All executive chairwoman Sandrine Dixson-Decleve, Potsdam Institute for Climate Action Research director Johan Rockstrom, UN Framework Convention on Climate Change former executive secretary Christiana Figueres and former Ireland president Mary Robinson.

The letter highlights the limitations of the existing Cop process to enact the rapid, large-scale changes now urgently required to limit warming to the 1.5°C threshold. 

“It is now clear that the Cop is no longer fit for purpose,” the letter states.

“We need a shift from negotiation to implementation.”

The letter follows remarks from the president of Cop29’s host country that oil and gas are a “gift of God” and news that an official of Azerbaijan’s Cop presidency had been using the event to advance fossil fuel business deals. 

Ms Dixson-Decleve said:  “We need a Cop process that offers delivery, not delay. We demand Cops that are platforms for government and stakeholder ambition, not enablers of fossil energy contracts and growing greenhouse gas emissions.”

She said: “After 28 Cops, time is up on negotiations that don’t foster action and implementation. Planetary stability is dependent on equality, justice and poverty alleviation to address the greatest existential challenge of our time.” 

The signatories warn that we can no longer exclude the possibility of surpassing 2.9°C of warming by 2100. 

Mr Rockstrom warned that the Earth was “in critical condition,” while Ms Figueres said: “We cannot hope to achieve a just transition without significant reforms to the Cop process that ensure fair representation of those most affected.”

The signatories propose seven key reforms.

An improvement to the selection process for Cop presidencies, switching Cop meetings to smaller, more frequent, solution-driven meetings, strengthening the process with mechanisms to hold countries accountable for targets and commitments, a more robust tracking of climate financing and an amplification of the voices of authoritative science.

The letter also calls for more recognition of the links between poverty, inequality and planetary instability as well as stronger transparency and disclosure rules for fossil fuel and other companies attending the meetings.