Slow Food on COP29: So Far, Not So Good

The US$300 billion annual commitment by 2035 is insufficient to address the climate crisis, and does not align with the urgent funding required to support critical climate action in developing countries. It represents only a small portion of the US$1.3 trillion needed, which economists have identified as essential to mitigate the devastating effects of climate change and protect vulnerable communities.

The achievement of an adequate climate finance deal was not merely about preserving the 1.5°C limit, but also about justice for those who nourish the world yet are left behind and for ecosystems on the brink of collapse climate-destroying system of industrial farming.

Reflecting on the conference, Mukiibi shared mixed impressions. “Being in Baku, I witnessed the strong commitment of civil society, NGOs, and certain government representatives who grasp the urgency of the climate crisis and confront its extreme impacts daily. However, I was equally struck by the overwhelming presence of large agribusiness corporations, which even managed to include their own representatives within country delegations. Moreover, many of them continue to deny the realities of climate change and the critical role of local communities, small-scale farmers, Indigenous peoples, and traditional food producers,” he said. “We need the UNFCCC to take bold action to reduce influence from corporations if it aims to restore its credibility before COP30 in Belem”.