COP 29 Capitalism ’ s Climate Circus Continues
Karl Marx once remarked , “ History repeats itself , first as tragedy , second as farce .” With COP-29 , the United Nations Climate Change Conference , we are now witnessing the 28 th farcical repetition of attempts to address the climate crisis within the framework of a capitalist system fundamentally incompatible with a sustainable future .
As Greta Thunberg , climate activist aptly described - these summits are “ greenwashing conferences that legitimise countries ’ failure to ensure a livable world and future .” Far from offering meaningful solutions , COP conferences have become platforms for public relations exercises by world leaders and corporate lobbyists . Yet , despite their dismal record , each year ’ s conference manages to stoop to new lows . A Petro-State Spectacle :
Held in Baku , Azerbaijan — a nation where 90 % of exports consist of oil and gas — COP-29 was hosted by yet another authoritarian Petrostate , following last year ’ s debacle in the UAE . Azerbaijan ’ s President openly refers to fossil fuels as a “ gift of God ,” and Amnesty International has accused the regime of using the conference as cover to suppress environmental activists .
Adding to the irony , the summit was branded as “ COP-29 : Climate and Peace .” However , Azerbaijan ’ s role as a supplier of 40 % of Israel ’ s oil imports and its ambitions in the global arms market starkly contradict this message . This so-called “ climate conference for peace ” was hosted by a government profiting from oil , gas , and war , while global emissions continue to climb unchecked .
The corruption surrounding COP-29 is emblematic of the broader problem . Deputy Energy Minister Elnur Soltanov , who also 6 heads the conference , was caught on video promoting Azerbaijan ’ s perpetual oil and gas production . Meanwhile , fossil fuel lobbyists outnumbered most national delegations , turning the summit into a networking event for polluters to cement their influence over climate policy . Hollow Promises and Empty Deals :
One major topic at COP-29 was the proposed “ new climate finance deal ,” which aims to secure funding from wealthier nations to help poorer countries adapt to the effects of climate change . However , without any commitment from major polluters to reduce fossil fuel consumption , such promises ring hollow . This is akin to offering a thimble of water to someone you ’ re actively setting on fire .
For three decades , these conferences have failed to produce real progress . The world remains on track for 2 – 3 ° C of warming — well beyond the limits set by the Paris Agreement . Such an outcome would be catastrophic , exacerbating extreme weather events , sea-level rise , and ecosystem collapse .
Leading climate scientists recently called on the UN to overhaul COP , declaring it “ no longer fit for purpose .” They suggested hosting future conferences in nations genuinely committed to climate action . But even these reforms would not address the deeper issue : the capitalist system ’ s relentless pursuit of profit at the expense of the planet . The Capitalist Crisis :
The global climate crisis is not an accident ; it is the inevitable outcome of a system that prioritizes short-term profits over long-term survival . Despite their lofty rhetoric , capitalists and their governments will never willingly abandon fossil fuel profits , even as the planet burns .
The farcical proceedings of COP-29 serve as a stark reminder that the solutions we need will not come from the top . Instead , we must look to history for inspiration . More than a century ago , in a very different conference held in Baku , the revolutionary leader Grigory Zinoviev called on “ workers of all lands and oppressed people of the whole world ” to unite against capitalist barbarity . Reclaim the Future :
To address the climate crisis , we must recapture that spirit of international solidarity and revolutionary energy . The fight against climate change is inseparable from the fight against capitalism . It demands the overthrow of a system that prioritizes the profits of the few over the survival of humanity and the planet .
We need a global movement that unites workers , activists , and oppressed people to demand public ownership of resources , the rapid transition to renewable energy , and an economy organized for human needs , not private gain . Only then can we hope to avert catastrophe and build a sustainable future .
The message from COP-29 is clear : the capitalist system is incapable of solving the climate crisis . It ’ s time to dismantle it before it destroys us all . �
Class Struggle
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