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00:00Well, after the United Arab Emirates in 2023, it is the second straight year that a petrostate
00:05is hosting a COP climate conference.
00:08And this year's summit in Azerbaijan really seems to be the straw that broke the camel's
00:12back for critics.
00:13In an open letter to the United Nations, a group of former leaders and climate experts
00:18argued that the annual global warming talks are no longer fit for purpose and need urgent
00:24reforms if they're to be taken seriously.
00:26Now, it's not only that they're being held in countries whose economies are heavily dependent
00:30on fossil fuels, but also that they're increasingly under the influence of fossil fuel lobbyists.
00:35And that has not prevented the presence of numerous developing nations, who of course
00:41are by and large disproportionately affected by the effects of climate change.
00:46Well, for more, youth delegate from Bermuda, Noelle Young, is our guest on the program
00:50today.
00:51She's attending COP29 in Baku.
00:53Noelle, thank you so much for joining us.
00:57Thank you so much for the invitation.
00:58So I want to put it bluntly in my first question to you, Noelle.
01:01Do you think that we're witnessing the final decline of the COP summits?
01:07In all honesty, no, I hope not.
01:09I really do.
01:11What I have seen this year from COP has been very positive.
01:15It's filling my heart with hope that at this point in time, they seem to actually be coming
01:19up with some new concepts, some new policies, and for example, some new terms.
01:24So a new term that is very specific to my island nation is a small, is a subnational
01:31island jurisdiction to essentially explain islands that are not small island developing
01:37nations did.
01:38So for me, in this case, this COP has been amazing.
01:43I don't want to dampen your optimism, Noelle, but a lot of what we're hearing here from
01:48reporters who are present at COP29 and also, of course, in opinion pieces that have been
01:52written, letters that have been published ahead of this conference is that they've actually
01:56thus far, I mean, of course, they're not over yet, but been quite inefficient that the delegates
02:01struggle to agree even on an agenda to run down.
02:05Do you hear some of the concerns from climate activists about these summits?
02:10Yes, I do.
02:12I hear the concerns, but I think that there's also a very big difference between the countries
02:17that are used to having quick processes that are not as effective as nations like myself
02:23who are greatly affected and are very used to these long processes.
02:27But the point of all of this is, yes, the process may be lengthy.
02:31It may be, it may need further determination, but the point is to get to that final goal.
02:37So as long as we are getting to the end of these negotiations, that we're actually receiving
02:43answers, that we are now at the point of action with less discussion, that is what's
02:48most important, that we are now moving forward and able to have actionable items.
02:52What are some of the actionable items that you expect to see, again, knowing that there
02:57are still several days to go?
02:58What are some of the actionable items that you expect to come out of this year's summit?
03:03The most important actionable item for me is the ratification of the High Seas Treaty,
03:08that that is further pushed forward.
03:10Bermuda is located in the middle of the Sargasso Sea.
03:13We are the only nation that has any real ties to the Sargasso Sea, and it is an extremely
03:19important environment globally.
03:22If the sea around Bermuda fails, then all the others do as well, because it is a migratory
03:26pathway.
03:29My vision, of course, is that there will be a Sargasso Sea sanctuary within the BB&J agreement.
03:36Again, that all of these nations are now pushing forward to fully approve and ratify this High
03:42Seas Treaty that was agreed last year.
03:44Now, even with those signs of progress that you mentioned, another undeniable issue with
03:49these summits is the absence of leaders from the world's biggest polluters, places like
03:54China, the United States, the European Union.
03:57How do you justify the existence of these summits if the most important actors aren't
04:01present?
04:02Because ultimately, a lot of the most important steps that need to be taken to reduce CO2
04:09emissions is for the biggest emitters of CO2 to commit to things, and where it doesn't
04:14look like that's moving forward with the absence of these leaders.
04:19I believe that things are moving forward without them.
04:22Those who disrupt the most, those who have the biggest voice, often get the most platform.
04:28So at this point in time, during this COP, I'm seeing a lot of the more underrepresented
04:33nations having a bigger voice this year because those big polluters are not here.
04:38They have opportunities, more opportunities this year in comparison to last year to have
04:43their voices heard.
04:44And again, that is the most important part of making change, is hearing from these nations
04:49such as mine.
04:51Bermuda does not have any representation from our government at this point in time.
04:55Because we are a subnational island jurisdiction, we are not actually provided with a seat at
05:00COP.
05:01It's something we have to apply to the USA to have.
05:04So again, hearing from small nations such as mine and underrepresented nations, especially
05:10underrepresented communities such as our indigenous communities, is vital.
05:14And I feel that that is happening this year.
05:17In March, Noel, the president of host nation Azerbaijan, said in a speech that the world
05:22simply cannot develop without fossil fuels.
05:25As someone who has worked in community engagement on sustainable environmental practices, is
05:30there truth to this claim?
05:31What alternatives to fossil fuels do you see in the pursuit of increasing the standard
05:35of living, especially in developing nations?
05:40So no, I do not feel that there is truth to that claim.
05:43I feel that the most effective strategies for coming up with plans to implement for
05:49fossil fuel use really is community engagement within each individual nation.
05:55It's different by nation.
05:57It really is.
05:58Everywhere is unique.
05:59So there needs to be, how would you put it, there needs to be more programs offered locally
06:05at the national level.
06:07So that different generations, of course, have a role and have a voice in the conversation
06:12efforts about adopting sustainable practices.
06:17In Bermuda, I do really see things like wind energy and solar being absolutely crucial
06:22at this point in time.
06:23So you have, well, let me just ask a quick follow up, Noel.
06:28Do you think that wind and solar energy can offer the same scale of energy that we see
06:36provided from fossil fuels?
06:38Is it realistic for entire economies to depend on wind and solar energy?
06:44I feel that it is realistic for some nations.
06:47And again, every nation is different.
06:49We are all individuals.
06:51So for some nations, that is very possible.
06:53However, I will state that I believe that a majority of energy can become renewable
06:58at this stage for every nation.
07:01Noel Young from COP29 in Azerbaijan, thank you very much for coming on the show today.
07:07That's unfortunately all we have time for.
07:09Thank you for your time.