Health at the COP29
"My low expectations were even too high"
What role do health issues play at the World Climate Conference? An interview with political scientist Dr Max Jungmann, who attended the COP29.
Interview: WeACT Con
Max Jungmann heads the sustainability strategy consultancy Moventum Novum, the ESG compliance consultancy FALK Momentum and the Heidelberg Centre for the Environment at the University of Heidelberg. His main topics include sustainability and health policy and the question of why politicians often fail to act against their better judgement.
1
Mr Jungmann, you observed the climate conference on site in the Azerbaijani capital of Baku. What expectations did you have?
Max Jungmann: My expectations were very low. Azerbaijan benefits enormously economically from the extraction of fossil fuels. At the same time, the country held the presidency of COP 29. That didn't make me particularly optimistic from the outset. On top of that: The conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East as well as the presidential election in the USA were at the centre of media attention. However, the outcome of the conference was even more disappointing than expected.
2
What disappointed you most?
Former EU Climate Action Commissioner Frans Timmermanns had done a great job, but his successor Wopke Hoekstra has not yet been able to achieve the same effect despite his commitment during his short time in office. The German government was barely represented due to the government crisis, and the USA also had a weak presence due to its imminent change of government. It was also sobering that China, India and Saudi Arabia blocked important initiatives, despite the conflicts between these countries. China does not seem ready to take on the leading role of the USA. In the end, no significant decision was taken at the conference.
3
What has happened in the area of health?
The Global Climate & Health Alliance (GCHA) plays a key role here. It aims to limit the impending climate damage in the health sector and reduce its emissions . It also monitors the areas in which health appears - with the aim of mainstreaming health into all policy areas.
4
How does the GCHA exert influence?
Decisions at the World Climate Conference are made unanimously. Smaller states can therefore also prevent any decision. It is often smaller and less powerful countries whose health systems are particularly affected by climate change. The GCHA's strategy aims to bring the issue of health into the negotiations with the support of these states.
5
Is there anything that gives you hope?
More and more stakeholders are realising that climate change is the biggest health crisis of our time. The states have also agreed that there should be a digital platform for the exchange of well-functioning measures. This is a very promising initiative.
6
What should happen next?
We need to speed up the implementation of climate protection measures. What is needed is what we call polycentric governance in political science - actors at all levels must become active at the same time to bring about change. For example, the EU with its Green Deal, but also cities, companies and civic initiatives. If, for example, a hospital wants to select suppliers according to sustainability criteria, this will only work if the entire supply chain and the legal framework also change. If many people pull together, then there is hope. That's why I'm really looking forward to the upcoming WeACT Con, because it will bring together very different people from politics, business and science. Especially when "big politics" fails, it is all the more important that we make progress at other levels - and the WeACT Con is exactly the right place for this.