Activists hold a silent protest inside the COP29 venue to demand that rich nations provide climate finance to developing countries, during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku on November 16, 2024. As COP29 is in progress, the demand for climate justice is clear: wealthy nations must recognise and address their climate debt to the Global South, turning words into action. Picture: Laurent Thomet/AFP.
Lindani Mtshali
AS the climate emergency intensifies, the world is losing patience with ineffective strategies that seem to prioritise convenience over genuine change.
Global temperatures continue to rise, extreme weather events devastate communities, and time to avert the worst impacts of climate change is running out. Yet, despite the clear urgency, global climate action often falls short, stalling in endless negotiations and “solutions” that serve as temporary fixes at best.
The burden of these failures weighs heaviest on the Global South, where communities face the daily realities of floods, droughts, and displacement. This region, least responsible for the climate crisis yet most vulnerable to its impacts, remains largely unsupported by the Global North—the historical contributor of the vast majority of carbon emissions.
As COP29 is in progress, the demand for climate justice is clear: wealthy nations must recognise and address their climate debt to the Global South, turning words into action.
Carbon capture, a technology often touted as a solution, is increasingly seen as a false hope—a diversion that enables the continued extraction of fossil fuels rather than addressing root causes.
To meaningfully address climate change, COP29 must go beyond half-measures. A just transition away from fossil fuels is imperative, and it requires an honest reckoning with the obligations of the Global North. For real progress, climate debt, genuine solutions, and equitable transitions must be at the forefront of climate negotiations. The stakes are too high, and the time for superficial answers has long passed.
The stark divide between the Global North and Global South in climate responsibility and vulnerability reveals a profound injustice at the heart of the climate crisis. For centuries, industrialised nations in the Global North have driven economic growth through activities that emitted the bulk of global greenhouse gases, fueling climate change.
Meanwhile, the Global South—regions least responsible for these emissions—now bear the brunt of its impacts, from devastating floods to crippling droughts and displacement. This disparity has given rise to the concept of “climate debt”: a moral and financial obligation for the Global North to compensate those who suffer disproportionately from their historical actions.
The idea of climate debt is gaining momentum, with activists, scientists, and even policymakers arguing that equity must be central to any climate solution. Yet, meaningful action remains elusive. Compensation could come in many forms, such as increased funding for climate adaptation projects in vulnerable communities, technological support to build resilient infrastructures, and even debt relief to free up resources for climate resilience.
Each of these actions would not only acknowledge responsibility but also empower Global South nations to face climate challenges with greater autonomy and security. While COP29 is still in progress, the question remains: will the Global North recognise and repay its climate debt, or will this be another missed opportunity to achieve true climate justice?
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology is often promoted as a critical tool for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but a closer look reveals it as a costly and unreliable distraction. Despite its promise to capture carbon directly from emission sources, CCS remains prohibitively expensive, energy-intensive, and riddled with technical challenges. Its high costs divert vital resources that could instead bolster affordable, sustainable solutions like renewable energy, reforestation, and regenerative agriculture—options that not only curb emissions but also empower communities.
Moreover, CCS has a deeper, more troubling flaw: it enables continued reliance on fossil fuels. By allowing polluters to offset emissions rather than phase out carbon-heavy industries, CCS risks locking in the very practices that created the climate crisis. This technology has been critiqued by climate activists, scientists, and even some policymakers as a “false solution” that gives fossil fuel industries a lifeline rather than holding them accountable. Their consensus is clear—pursuing CCS is a misallocation of resources and attention, one that sidelines real, proven climate solutions.
If COP-29 is serious about climate justice, it must redirect focus and funds away from CCS and toward strategies that build resilience and drive systemic change. Abandoning CCS would signify a commitment to an equitable, sustainable future, prioritising genuine solutions that directly benefit both people and the planet.
Moving beyond fossil fuels is more than an environmental imperative; it’s a matter of global justice. For decades, the Global North’s relentless consumption of fossil fuels has driven both climate change and economic structures that heavily impact the Global South.
However, a shift away from fossil fuels offers a critical opportunity: the chance for the Global South to redefine its economic future. But this shift cannot succeed without substantial support. For the Global South, a just transition requires investment in renewable infrastructure, technology transfer, and economic diversification. It means empowering local communities with the skills, resources, and support they need to thrive in a sustainable economy. Without such support, the transition risks replicating past inequities, where wealthier nations reap the benefits of climate solutions, leaving vulnerable communities behind.
At COP29, global leaders must recognise this imperative, prioritising policies that provide the financial and technical assistance necessary to support a fair, inclusive transition. Moving beyond fossil fuels isn’t just about reducing emissions; it’s about dismantling entrenched injustices and building an equitable, resilient future for all. The question now is whether global leaders will rise to this challenge or continue to prioritise profit over people and the planet.
As COP29 is ongoing, the path to meaningful climate action is clear, but it is neither easy nor convenient. Real progress demands that global leaders confront the realities of climate debt, move beyond the flawed promises of carbon capture, and commit to a decisive transition away from fossil fuels. Anything less would be a failure not just of policy but of moral responsibility. The Global North owes the Global South more than apologies—it owes action, support, and a commitment to equity that compensates for decades of environmental exploitation and disregard.
Achieving climate justice calls for far more than technical adjustments; it requires a complete shift in mindset, systemic transformation, and an unwavering political will to prioritise people over profits. The climate crisis can no longer be addressed through superficial “solutions” that serve only to delay hard decisions. What is needed now is a steadfast commitment to accountability and justice, with the voices and needs of the most affected at the core of decision-making.
COP29 stands as a critical moment in history—an opportunity to turn the page on “business as usual” and embrace genuine solutions. Leaders must act with urgency and moral clarity, recognising that our collective future depends on transformative action today. Climate justice can no longer be deferred. It must be the foundation upon which we build a sustainable, equitable world.
* Lindani Mtshali is a Senior Project Officer at the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance.
** The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of The African.