As we gathered in the capital of Azerbaijan for the 29th edition of the Conference of the Parties (COP), there was a simple text in one of the activist groups on Signal –  a call to action. Within minutes, civil society representatives from across the venue began to come together in one room. The air buzzed with urgency and determination as we confronted the subpar drafts. Many of us had no seats at the negotiation table, yet here we were, united and ready to make our voices heard.

We crafted a plan for an instant protest, rejecting the inadequate deal that the world’s biggest climate conference had yielded. It was a moment of raw solidarity – activists, delegates, and allies standing shoulder to shoulder, refusing to be silenced. Despite a fear of running into trouble with Azeri authorities, we had carved out our own defiant space. That spontaneous, collective action reminded me why I fight for climate justice. It wasn’t just about policies or headlines; it was about people, together, demanding what is right. That feeling will stay with me as a testament to the power of unity.

But there weren’t many such moments at COP29 in Baku. The energy that came from our solidarity as activists felt like a flicker of light in an otherwise exhausting and disheartening conference. For much of the time, the atmosphere inside the blue zone (where all the official sessions, meetings, side events, and press conferences were taking place) was tense, with the smaller space dedicated to civil society actors making it harder to engage with the discussions meaningfully. As I stood in those rooms, reflecting on my journey from my hometown in the Himalayan region to Baku, I realised how draining this path had become.

As a young climate activist coming from Almora, a small town in the state of Uttarakhand, an ecologically delicate mountainous region in the northern part of India, my journey has been deeply influenced by the tangible impacts of climate change. I have seen first-hand how changing weather patterns and rising temperatures have taken a heavy toll on people’s livelihoods. Phenomena like the melting of glaciers, cloudbursts, heat waves, and landslides are making people’s lives miserably precarious. These challenges shaped my commitment to climate justice and inspired me to take action both at the local level and on the global stage – including at UN climate conferences. 

When I was preparing for COP29 last November, I realised how far I have come in this journey. I first got the opportunity through the Global Young Greens to participate at COP26 in Glasgow in 2021, and I haven’t missed a single COP since. Still, I have always been very vocal about the exclusive nature of COPs – or any UN climate conference for that matter.  Taking part in these crucial events is especially difficult for the young activists from the Global South who do not have the means to support themselves. Many of these activists come from areas that are bearing the brunt of climate change and are doing great work at the local level, but they don’t get the platform they need to raise their voices.

COP 29 was the third consecutive conference held in a repressive state that severely limits freedom of speech and peaceful assembly, further fuelling concerns about the host selection process. Holding the world’s most important climate gathering in major oil-producing and -exporting countries is a massive threat to the idea of climate justice. Autocrats like Azerbaijan’s Ilham Aliyev and Egypt’s Abdel Fattah al-Sisi use COPs to greenwash their image while continuing to extract fossil fuels and systematically violate human rights.

We cannot allow decisions that impact the planet to be made in isolation, and this is why, despite the frustration and limitations, we continue to show up.

In Azerbaijan, Aliyev’s authoritarian government has shown little tolerance for dissent, overseeing a brutal crackdown on independent journalists and civil society activists. The country is critically unsafe for journalists, activists, and the LGBTQIA+ community, with around 300 individuals behind bars on politically motivated charges and often on fabricated accusations. Sadly, COP27 was not any better. In Egypt, thousands of political prisoners are often subjected to torture in the country’s infamous jails. Similarly, COP28 in the UAE was overshadowed by the country’s poor human rights record, including detaining dissidents, repressing civil society, and discriminating against marginalised communities.

Unfortunately, this year’s conference was also disappointing in terms of process. In comparison to previous COPs, the pace of drafting and negotiations in Baku was alarmingly slow. Usually, deals are drafted in the first week of the conference for the ministers of participating countries to negotiate further, but this year’s COP ran into overtime and left developing nations tremendously unsatisfied.

Defying restrictions

Compared to previous COPs, the limitations on civil society activities during COP29 were severe. Spontaneous protests and actions aimed at putting pressure on negotiators and ministers to take bolder steps to protect the planet were noticeably subdued. While restrictions on the space dedicated to civil society have been a major concern since COP27, the constraints within the blue zone itself at COP29 were more acute. This atmosphere adversely affected the energy and limited the sort of quick action needed for effective advocacy. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) also failed to address these concerns.

But when all was said and done, COP29 reminded me why it’s so important for activists to be present in climate discussions, even when we are locked out of negotiation rooms. As part of the GYG delegation, we had carefully prepared workshops, pavilion sessions, press conferences, and other events to amplify the voices of our delegates, especially those from the Global South. In fact, most of our time at COPs is spent reflecting the demands of those most affected by the climate crisis – voices often drowned out by the political and economic interests of more powerful states – through protests, media engagement, and other spontaneous acts such as questioning negotiators and ministers. These actions aim to draw attention to the gaps in negotiations and hold decision-makers accountable. At COP29, this meant rejecting inadequate drafts on climate finance, gender equality, just transition, and human rights. And when we weren’t in meetings or organising actions, we were connecting with other activists, strategizing and building coalitions for future advocacy.

This year, I also spoke at a press conference with the Plant Based Treaty alongside inspiring figures like Lena Schilling, the youngest representative in the European Parliament, and renowned climate scientist Steven George. Representing the Global Young Greens, I called on world leaders to hold polluters accountable, phase out fossil fuels, and include youth, especially from developing nations, in decision-making. And it felt powerful to see so many other young activists sharing the same cause and appreciating the urgency of real climate action.

Even if we aren’t at the negotiation table and have very limited access with our observer badges, we create pressure that cannot be ignored. Our actions and presence are a constant reminder that the world is watching, and the outcomes of these conferences impact lives far beyond the walls of COP venues. We cannot allow decisions that impact the planet to be made in isolation, and this is why, despite the frustration and limitations, we continue to show up. Every voice raised, every action taken, and every alliance formed is a step closer to justice.

In dismay, there is hope

COP29, which was anticipated as the “finance COP”, fell drastically short of expectations, delivering outcomes far from the urgency of the climate crisis. The conference failed to address the chronic gaps in climate finance, particularly in terms of equity and justice for the Global South. While wealthy nations pledged 300 billion dollars annually by 2035, this figure remains highly inadequate compared to the 1.3 trillion dollars needed globally each year to mitigate and adapt effectively. The over-reliance on loans instead of grants continues to exacerbate the debt burdens of vulnerable nations. Meanwhile, loss and damage financing, another critical issue, saw minimal substantive progress. The newly launched Loss and Damage Fund, a symbolic victory we had at COP28, was weakened in Baku with vague commitments and no clear mechanisms for scaling up resources.

Furthermore, resistance from certain parties against including gender-sensitive language in the drafts undermined progress on recognising and addressing the differentiated impacts of climate change on marginalised groups. This was a shocking regression compared to previous COPs.

The unsatisfactory outcomes of COP29 underscore the need for a fundamental shift in global climate governance. Baku serves as a stark reminder that the promises of wealthy nations often remain unfulfilled, leaving vulnerable communities to face the escalating impacts of the climate crisis alone. I was very much in line with India’s comments after the passing of the final draft that the 300-billion-dollar pledge was  “stage-managed”. As we, the activists and developing nations, have been saying, “No deal is better than a bad deal.”

Moving forward, COP30 will be hosted in Belem, Brazil. Containing nearly two-thirds of the Amazon rainforest, the South American country holds immense significance for the fight against the climate crisis, espeically in the Global South. Under the leadership of Luiz Inácio “Lula” da Silva, Brazil has been trying to reverse years of political turmoil and climate backsliding that characterised former populist president Jair Bolsonaro’s tenure.

Lula’s administration has made commitments to protect the Amazon and centre marginalised voices in the climate conversation. This presents a unique opportunity to shape COP30 into a platform for justice and meaningful action. For activists like me, the return of the conference to a democratic country with such ecological and cultural richness feels and immensely encouraging. We hope that COP30 can finally mark a shift toward empowering the Global South, moving beyond vague promises to real, grant-based financing, a just transition, and a stronger focus on loss and damage.

Every voice raised, every action taken, and every alliance formed is a step closer to climate justice.

The fight continues

As I reflect back on COP29, that moment when activists from around the world came together to reject an inadequate draft feels more significant than ever. The solidarity in that room and the sense of shared purpose felt like a powerful antidote to the frustration of being locked out of the negotiations. It was a reminder of why being physically present at these conferences matters – even when the outcomes disappoint. COPs are undoubtedly not the perfect system, yet for now, they are the only robust mechanism we have for international coordination on climate efforts.

The bonds made at these events extend beyond the conference venues. The friendships and alliances we build at COPs are invaluable, allowing us to coordinate and amplify our voices even after the conferences end. That is what motivates me to keep coming back despite how draining this work can be. The knowledge gained through these connections can bear fruit in unexpected and powerful ways. Each conversation, action and alliance formed contributes to the broader momentum for Climate justice. It is this collective strength that transforms frustration into action and ensures the fight for a just and sustainable future continues long after the conference is over.

Looking ahead at COP30 in Brazil, I remain hopeful. The solidarity we cultivated at COP29 will guide us as we continue to demand accountability, centre the voices of those most affected by the climate crisis, and push for transformative change.