Oil lobby versus public opinion - this will decide the future

Only decarbonisation can avert a climate catastrophe but entrenched interests stand in the way.

- Vinod Thomas

Each year, the United Nations holds its Conference of the Parties (COP) on climate change and, each year, instead of seeing a fall in greenhouse gas emissions, we see them rise.

It is vital that COP30, which will be held in Belem, Brazil, in November 2025, reverse this dismal trend.

For Asean, a grouping that is extremely vulnerable to climate disasters, decarbonisation should top the agenda. Sadly, Asean met almost all of its 3.6 per cent rise in electricity demand through fossil fuels.

What countries need to do is to mitigate and adapt rapidly.

Mitigation means taking steps such as cutting greenhouse emissions to soften the impact of the oncoming catastrophe.

Adaptation refers to being able to cope with disasters - and lessen the damage they cause by putting in place better drainage systems, flood-resistant crops and financial safety nets.

The more we delay mitigation, the harder and more expensive it becomes to adapt.

COP29 pulled off a win of sorts as developed countries agreed, at the last minute, to raise US$300 billion (S$403 billion) a year by 2035 to help poorer nations cope with the impacts of climate change.

But there's a big caveat: This sum is merely a statement of intention. And, even if it is delivered in full, it will account for less than a third of what's really needed, according to experts.

The real elephant in the room, meanwhile, is fossil fuels.

The past three summits have failed to move the needle on reducing their consumption.