Research article

The Road to Baku: The Carbon Cost of Getting to COP29 in Azerbaijan

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This is version 1 of this article, this is the latest verison of this preprint.

This article is a preprint and is currently undergoing peer review by UCL Open: Environment.

Abstract

2024 sees a return of the UNFCCC climate negotiations to Eastern Europe, as COP29 is hosted in Baku. Labelled the ‘finance COP’, this year will see the finalisation of the new collective quantified goal on climate finance, and thus questions of equity and climate justice are centre stage. In light of this, we present the COP29 carbon footprint calculator, providing data and analysis on the travel options from the United Kingdom to Baku, highlighting the carbon cost of such travel, and conferences as a whole. Ultimately, this calculator and research encourages transparency on travel choices and emissions and can inform sustainable travel policies. In addition, the usage and emissions of private jets from COP28 in Dubai are assessed, shedding light on the considerable carbon footprint of private aircraft and considering who uses these planes, why, and how they embody vast inequalities in consumption and carbon footprints across society. As the annual stage for climate action and climate justice, COPs drive both ambition and implementation. But they are not immune to carbon emissions and scrutiny, and have the opportunity to lead the way in sustainable practices, balanced against accessibility and impact on progress.

Keywords: Carbon footprint, climate change, COP, private jet, transport, climate justice, offsetting, travel