Demonstrators in Baku, Nov. 18, 2024. (Credit: Suzanne Baaklini/L'Orient-Le Jour)
Controversy persists at the COP29 summit in Baku, highlighting the devastating consequences of continued fossil fuel reliance. Activists at COP29 in Baku staged a protest, linking the industry to “genocide” as the 29th U.N. climate summit entered its second week. Their chants of, "Stop the genocides perpetrated around the world, vote for an embargo on fossil fuels" rang out, directed at countries accused of these atrocities.
Israel in the crosshairs
While the demonstrators were careful not to name any specific nation, the kuffiyehs draped around their necks and watermelon-shaped accessories hinted at a specific conflict: the ongoing war in Gaza.
The symbolism suggested their call for an embargo was aimed squarely at Israel — a suspicion confirmed by some of the organizers, despite their initial precautions. "We want people here to recognize the connection between the fossil fuel lobby and Israel's war on Gaza and Lebanon," stated Mohammad Kamal, founder of the Egyptian NGO Greenish.
“We wanted to remind people that numerous countries, including regional powers, are encouraging war in the Middle East by supplying Israel with fossil fuels," Kamal added, apologizing for not naming them explicitly "because we are within the framework of the United Nations.” “There's no point in simply asking for a cease-fire without understanding the problem in all its ramifications,” the activist continued.
But what are these activists truly demanding? “Let there be a ban on the export of fossil fuels to Israel," Kamal urged, dismissing concerns about the feasibility of such a measure. He pointed to recent actions by countries like Colombia, which has suspended its coal exports to Israel, as evidence that change is possible. The activists' demands are informed by a study conducted by Oil International, which meticulously tracks the countries supplying Israel with fuel.
"What's happening now in Gaza is not just genocide, it's ecocide," added Hamza Hampuchene, an activist with Global Energy Embargo. "There is a clear link between war, genocide and the climate crisis," asserted Hampuchene.
He cited the destruction of green spaces, agricultural fields and water resources as evidence of the environmental toll. "Given the amount of CO2 emitted during bombings, equivalent to the emissions of several countries at once, the impact on the climate is undeniable," he argued.
Hampuchene highlights the role of various actors in perpetuating the conflict, including oil exporters — both nations and multinational corporations — who provide the fuel powering the Israeli war machine. He also implicates those supplying electricity and artificial intelligence technology used in combat.
'Solidarity Prize' for Palestinians
The Climate Action Network (CAN), a coalition of civil society organizations at COP29, awarded a "solidarity prize" to the Palestinian people. The award recognizes "Palestinian resilience and resistance during more than 75 years of occupation, decades of continuous oppression and the genocide currently taking place in Gaza," their statement emphasized.
"The Palestinians' just and legitimate struggle for self-determination and their endurance in the face of the most horrific atrocities during more than 400 days of genocide have aroused global solidarity on an unprecedented scale," read CAN in a statement.
This article was originally published in French in L'Orient Le-Jour.