The United Nations’ COP climate negotiations are “no longer fit for purpose” and require sweeping changes to address the escalating climate crisis, prominent figures including former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and former UN climate chief Christiana Figueres have warned. In an open letter to the UN, they called for stricter criteria for hosting the talks, including a mandate that host nations actively support phasing out fossil fuels.
Their intervention highlights growing frustration with the pace and effectiveness of the COP process, as well as controversies over host nations’ climate credentials. At COP29 in Baku this week, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev described natural gas as a “gift from God,” defending his country’s fossil fuel exports while announcing plans to expand production. His comments came after reports suggested a senior Azerbaijani official leveraged the summit to promote potential fossil fuel deals.
While the COP process has delivered notable achievements — including the 2015 Paris Agreement and pledges to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030 — the authors of the letter argue that the talks have become too unwieldy and ineffective to meet the scale of the climate emergency.
Experts Demand Overhaul of Climate Talks
In their letter, the signatories warned that the current format of COP summits is ill-suited to the urgency of the crisis. “The structure as it stands cannot deliver the rapid and systemic changes required to secure a livable future,” they wrote. Other signatories include Mary Robinson, the former President of Ireland, and other senior climate advocates.
Despite agreements reached in past summits, global greenhouse gas emissions rose by nearly 1% over the past year. To prevent global warming from surpassing 1.5°C — a critical threshold scientists say will trigger severe climate impacts — emissions must decrease by 42% by the end of this decade. Yet progress remains elusive, and many feel the COP process has fallen behind the pace of the crisis.
The letter called for more streamlined and frequent summits, with a sharper focus on holding nations accountable for delivering on their promises.
Criticism Over Host Nations
Controversy over the selection of host countries has intensified. Azerbaijan, a major natural gas exporter, follows the United Arab Emirates — another oil-dependent economy — as host of the COP summits. Ahead of COP29, leaked recordings revealed that Elnur Soltanov, the head of Azerbaijan’s delegation, discussed potential investments in the state oil company with a person posing as an investor.
During the conference, President Aliyev dismissed criticisms of his country’s energy policies, asserting that nations should not be blamed for utilizing their natural resources. “Oil, gas, wind, solar — these are all gifts from God. No one should fault a country for bringing these resources to market when they are in demand,” he said.
Aliyev’s remarks, paired with sharp criticisms of France over alleged colonial-era abuses, stood in stark contrast to the conciliatory tone typically sought at climate negotiations. Such rhetoric has fueled concerns about whether host nations with vested interests in fossil fuels can genuinely advance the goals of the Paris Agreement.
Pushback From Vulnerable Nations
Efforts to reform the COP process have raised alarms among smaller nations that could lose influence. Representatives of small island states, among the most vulnerable to climate change, expressed fears that shifting decision-making to other forums like the G20 could sideline their voices.
“We don’t have a seat at those tables,” said Micahi Robertson, an adviser to the Alliance of Small Island States. “The COP process, for all its flaws, ensures that all countries have an equal say.”
Christiana Figueres, one of the letter’s signatories, later clarified her position, stressing that she remains a strong advocate for the UN climate talks. “The COP process is vital and irreplaceable in driving systemic global change,” she said, adding that she supports efforts to adapt the process for the new challenges ahead.
A Call for Greater Accountability
The letter also called for host nations to demonstrate “high ambition” and strong alignment with global climate goals as a condition for hosting future COP summits. The selection of oil-rich nations like Azerbaijan and the UAE has drawn criticism for undermining the credibility of the process.
The UN has yet to respond to the letter, but the debate underscores the increasing demand for a more agile and effective framework to tackle the climate crisis. Without significant reforms, critics warn, the COP process risks becoming a symbol of inertia rather than progress.