The COP29 Summit in Baku is continuing in full force. UN Secretary-General Guterres addressed questions of young climate activists at the conference. The campaigners expressed their frustration over the lack of political action on the crisis.
“You’ve every right to be angry. I’m angry too,” Guterres noted in a post on social media on Thursday. He expressed his fury over the fact that humans are currently on the verge of the “climate abyss” and that he doesn’t see enough urgency or political determination.
Opting out of traditional speeches, young campaigners from across the globe chose to present their visions on preventing a climate catastrophe and engage in frank discussions about challenges they encounter, as per media reports.
Climate campaigners speak of their dreams and fears
“Climate scientists, activists and young people are demanding climate action. They must be heard, not silenced,” the UN Secretary-General emphasised in a social media post, noting that the people’s “testimony and activism are fundamental to secure our future.”
The COP29 Summit in Baku has been billed as the ‘finance COP’. Participants are aiming to secure another annual climate financing target as the current goal of $100 billion is being criticised as not sufficient to tackle climate change.
Young climate campaigners spoke of their dreams and fears before Guterres, proposing concrete steps to make the planet more sustainable and secure for future generations. For many, climate change is not an abstract concept but a daily reality.
