The COP29 climate conference in Baku concluded on November 22, leaving the world to ponder a critical question: Does the planet stand a chance in the face of persistent geopolitical strife and escalating warfare? Despite the turbulent backdrop, some notable progress was made, though the scale of global cooperation and goodwill required to secure lasting change remains daunting.

Amid the challenges, the conference delivered some encouraging outcomes. At a ministerial meeting for the Global Methane Pledge (GMP), governments and philanthropic agencies announced nearly $500 million in new grant funding for methane abatement, increasing total funding under the pledge to over $2 billion. Significant new contributions came from the European Commission, South Korea, the United Kingdom, Canada, and USAID.

Equally important was progress on Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, a central focus of COP29. Negotiators reportedly approved Article 6.4, which will establish standards for a global carbon market, thereby unlocking financial support for developing nations. Another milestone was the installation of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage, designed to address the pressing needs of communities most vulnerable to climate change. At the signing ceremony, Sweden pledged approximately $19 million, bringing the fund’s total pledges to more than $720 million.

A further step forward came with the publication of the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) draft, which aims to advance climate-related discussions. The draft text aspires to “guide conversations around potential landing zones and help to identify concerns,” signaling a measured but necessary progression in dialogue.

The conference also saw high-level discussions aimed at curbing methane emissions and other greenhouse gases. A summit convened in Baku brought together representatives from Washington, Beijing, and other key players. The U.S. delegation announced the finalization of its rule to implement the Waste Emissions Charge in the oil and gas sector, a measure intended to incentivize methane pollution reductions. China committed to lowering the emission limit for coalbed methane from 30 percent to 8 percent under its revised emissions standards. Delegations from Azerbaijan, South Korea, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, and the European Commission made similar methane-related announcements.

Another significant event under the COP29 banner was the Leaders’ Summit of Small Island Developing States (SIDS), a group uniquely vulnerable to climate change and rising sea levels. Nations such as Mauritius, the Maldives, and Micronesia face existential threats, making their inclusion in climate discussions vital. Canada’s $7.5 million pledge over four years to reduce methane emissions in countries like Belize, Grenada, and Samoa was particularly significant.

Similarly, the United Kingdom committed $6.7 million to the Pacific Catastrophe Risk Insurance program, which aims to provide Pacific nations with financial resilience in the face of extreme weather events. Rich nations also pledged up to $300 billion by 2035 to help poorer countries transition to environmentally friendly economies and prepare for natural disasters, though many developing nations argue that this sum falls far short of the need.

Efforts to protect vital ecosystems were also a focal point. The United Kingdom pledged funding for initiatives to safeguard forest tenure rights for indigenous and local communities in the Amazon and Congo Basins. These two regions, often referred to as the lungs of the planet, are critical in the fight against climate change, making such commitments particularly noteworthy.

In a surprising move, Azerbaijan’s COP29 presidency proposed a COP Truce Appeal, urging a halt to military operations during the conference. The initiative garnered the support of 132 countries, with the aim of shifting focus toward addressing the climate crisis. The logic behind the proposal is compelling: Warfare not only devastates human lives and infrastructure but also exacts a heavy environmental toll. Green spaces are destroyed, waterways polluted, and greenhouse gases emitted by military platforms contribute to the very crisis COP aims to address.

The war in Ukraine, with its potential to trigger an environmental catastrophe at sites like the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, serves as a stark reminder of the risks. However, the complex and entrenched nature of modern conflicts makes even temporary ceasefires for climate considerations seem aspirational at best.

Baku played host to over 70,000 delegates from around the globe, including more than 80 heads of state and government. The U.S. delegation, led by U.S. climate envoy John Podesta, also included Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. Yet, COP29 unfolded during an exceptionally crowded month for international events, including the U.S. elections, the collapse of Germany’s government, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Peru, and the G20 summit in Brazil. Against this backdrop, global powers remained unlikely to prioritize the Azerbaijani truce appeal.

Nonetheless, COP29 offered reasons for cautious optimism. While environmental protection and climate change still struggle to command the urgency they deserve, the agreements reached in Baku—particularly those benefiting SIDS, the Amazon, and the Congo—may represent a step in the right direction. Progress on Article 6 and the commitments made to methane reduction are further signs of incremental advancement.

As the world grapples with overlapping crises, the outcomes of COP29 leave us with mixed emotions: cautious hope tempered by the recognition that time is running out. Whether Baku will be remembered as a turning point in the fight to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius remains to be seen. For now, the planet waits.