Natalia Slobodian asks if the latest gathering of leaders and governments at COP29 is really going to make the difference.

As COP29 kicks off, it’s becoming increasingly clear that the world might be running out of time to address the climate crisis effectively. While the conference is meant to drive urgent climate action, the reality is that it’s starting to feel more like a meeting of procrastinators, each pushing for incremental changes instead of the drastic measures needed.

A race we are losing

By 2030, we’re expected to achieve several key milestones to prevent catastrophic global warming. These targets were set years ago, with commitments from governments, finance giants, and major industries. Yet, the data tells a different story. Last year, carbon emissions hit a record high instead of declining, signalling that reaching net-zero emissions by 2050 will be slower, harder, and much more expensive than anticipated.

Even before the election of Donald Trump for the first time in 2016, which saw him roll back multiple environmental policies, progress was already too slow. Now, the effects of climate inaction are being felt globally, with extreme weather events putting millions at risk and threatening economic stability. A recent study suggests that a 1°C increase in global temperatures could slash global GDP by up to 12%.

Tech giants: ambition vs reality

Big tech companies like Google, Meta, and Microsoft have made bold promises to cut their emissions to zero by 2030. However, the surge in artificial intelligence (AI) development has had an unintended consequence — skyrocketing energy consumption. Data centers are now guzzling power at record rates, pushing emissions even higher. Google’s emissions, for instance, have jumped by two-thirds compared to 2020, while Meta has reported a 64% increase.

Microsoft, despite its public commitment to sustainability, saw a 40% rise in its carbon footprint over the past three years. And while Amazon claims to have reduced its emissions recently, questions have arisen about the transparency of its renewable energy reporting.

To meet their climate pledges, tech giants are exploring new energy sources, including nuclear power. Microsoft’s partnership with Constellation Energy to restart a nuclear plant in Pennsylvania is just one example of the drastic steps companies are taking. Meanwhile, solar panels now cover former golf courses in Japan, powering Google’s data centers, and massive solar fields are springing up across Asia.

The clock is ticking

With just five years left before the first climate deadline of 2030, the question remains: are we truly moving forward, or are we just talking about it? COP29 might be our last chance to push beyond the rhetoric and take the kind of urgent, transformative action the planet so desperately needs.

If we don’t, we risk making COP nothing more than a networking event for climate procrastinators, and the price of delay could be catastrophic.

Natalia Slobodian is Research Fellow in the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Social Sciences, at Canterbury Christ Church University. She is an expert of sustainability development in the energy sector.