Leaders from around the world are meeting in Azerbaijan for the U.N.’s COP29 climate conference. With Donald Trump’s recent election victory looming over the event, the U.S.’s role will be diminished. WSJ’s Matthew Dalton explains why this moment might be China’s chance to shine. Further Listening: -The Oil Giant Hosting This Year’s U.N. Climate Summit -The Fight Over Climate Change's Price Tag Further Reading: -Trump Victory Leaves China Calling the Shots at COP29 Climate Negotiations -Welcome to Baku, a City Built on Oil Hosting the World’s Climate Conference Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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The world's largest annual climate conference kicked off this week. It's known as COP29, and it's taking place in Baku, Azerbaijan. Our colleague Matthew Dalton is an experienced COP attendee, and this weekend he's headed to Baku. How many of these conferences have you been to at this point?
This will be my fifth COP. The most interesting thing about them is it's a place where every country of the world almost is represented. And a lot of times people are dressed in their traditional garb. It's quite a festive and interesting place to be.
What are you packing to go to Baku?
Yeah.
Suits, ties.
No, no suits. Actually, no, I'll have a few suits. No ties, though. No ties. That's where I draw the line.
Matthew, in his boring reporter outfit, will likely see some members from the United States delegation at COP, probably wearing some suits as well. But the U.S. delegation is now seen as a lame duck following last week's election. The incoming Trump administration is expected to pull the U.S. away from global climate diplomacy.
The U.S. role will be diminished. The U.S. voice will be diminished. It is widely expected that Donald Trump will pull the U.S. out of the Paris Agreement for the second time. He did it during the first administration. Biden brought the U.S. back in. So that really drains the U.S. credibility in the eyes of the world.
And into that void, a new leader is seen as stepping up.
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