The 2024 UNGA must go beyond rhetoric

By Fredrick Otieno & James Kahongeh

Climate change and its impact on humanity and life on the planet will come into sharp focus this week as the 79th edition of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) gets underway.

This year’s theme, ‘‘leaving no one ‘‘behind” sums up the agony of underdevelopment and growing climate vulnerability from developing countries, especially in Africa.

The theme could not have been more apt. It comes at a time the world hopes for a climate finance goal at COP29 in Baku, commensurate with the enormity of the crisis humanity faces.

Whenever UNGA convenes, it inspires hope, marking a turning point for our planet. 
This UNGA is not different. Except the stakes are higher than ever before. For instance, 2024 is projected to be the hottest in record and current talks signal that the NCQG outcome may largely be political rather than informed by science or technical reports.  

This year’s edition of the assembly reflects the Global South’s anticipation for the Means of Implementation that will save lives, lift populations from poverty and reduce their vulnerability to climate shocks.   

Throughout its life, the UNGA has made pivotal decisions on pressing global issues. It is safe to hope that this year’s edition will go beyond rhetoric and address the climate crisis for the benefit of humanity. 

The Heads of State must unite around the common purpose of championing climate finance, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations.

The world is watching. 

Why this is a high-stakes UNGA  

World leaders meeting in New York this week for the UN General Assembly have their work well cut out for them. The stakes have never been higher. For several reasons.  

This year remains on course to be the hottest year ever on record. If the world maintains the current trajectory, a Carbon Brief’s analysis indicates a 95% probability that 2024 will be the second warmest year in a row, after global temperatures in 2023 hit record levels. 

This assembly of heads of state and government also happens at a time when multiple deadlines in the climate change discourse are approaching. 

A new climate finance goal is expected to be agreed on at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, which kicks off in November. This, effectively, makes finance the primary agenda at the climate summit. 

Under the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG), poor and underdeveloped countries are asking for at least $1 trillion per year to help them to develop and adapt to the shocks of climate change. 

For context, this amount is less than half the size of the economy of Texas.  

A study by Oil Change International shows that rich nations could raise $5 trillion annually, five times more than vulnerable countries are asking for. 

This money could be raised by taxing fossil fuels, ending harmful subsidies and introducing wealth tax on the superrich.   

Leaders are also expected to set up structures for impactful implementation of finance.  In February 2025, countries are expected to submit to the UN their new national climate plans (Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)) in line with the 1.5C ambition.  

UNGA is where world leaders could hit the ground running by committing to the climate transition. It is also a moment for leaders to scale up and enhance the international financial architecture. 

This UNGA also comes when geopolitical tensions in the world have hit fever pitch, with the Israeli war in Gaza and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.  

It also comes about 40 days to the high-stakes US presidential election. It is a delicately balanced election campaign, with multiple polls indicating a tight race between Democrat and Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, a Republican.  

The possibility of a Trump return to the White House remains potent, with fears his election could put in jeopardy multiple gains in the climate discourse. 

Power Shift Africa director Mohamed Adow argues that only an ambitious NCQG will anchor the world on a safe path by protecting the climate momentum, whatever the election outcome. 

Analysts say that by making bold climate commitments at UNGA, the leaders will have set the stage for a successful COP29.  

Consequently, this will strengthen confidence and trust in multilateral and diplomatic processes, values that have been eroded in recent years.  

UNGA 2024 can correct this course.