The signatories said they “recognise the important diplomatic milestones of the past 28 years of climate negotiations” but that desperate changes needed to be made.
They noted the success of the 2015 Paris climate agreement to keep global temperatures from rising by more than 1.5C, and pledges to stop deforestation and treble renewable power by 2030.
But the authors said Cop’s “current structure simply cannot deliver the change at exponential speed and scale, which is essential to ensure a safe climate landing for humanity”.
They also called for smaller and more frequent Cops that would address implementation of countries’ promises.
Baku’s hosting of the climate talks this year have been marred in controversy after one of the key members of the Azerbaijan government’s organising team was filmed offering to help strike fossil fuel deals. Azerbaijan is a major fossil fuel producer with oil and gas making up half of its exports.
Fossil fuel industry ‘seized control of Cop’
Last year Cop28 was held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, a country that relies on oil and gas for some 40 per cent of government income. The conference was also presided over by Sultan Al Jaber, the head of the UAE’s national oil company Adnoc.
“We need strict eligibility criteria to exclude countries who do not support the phase-out/transition away from fossil energy. Host countries must demonstrate their high level of ambition to uphold the goals of the Paris agreement,” the signatories said.
Cop29 has also drawn criticism for giving 1,773 fossil fuel lobbyists access to the conference, according to the Kick Big Polluters Out activist coalition. This is bigger than the delegations sent by all but three countries: Brazil, Turkey, and hosts Azerbaijan.