The Unmistakable Backdrop of COP29

It smells like gasoline at the United Nations climate change conference here in Baku, Azerbaijan.

The precise source of the odor isn’t entirely clear. Yet the lingering scent of petroleum is a visceral reminder of the daunting task at hand: international negotiators gathering in this petrostate are trying to wean the world off fossil fuels as the world burns record amounts of oil, gas and coal. And as climate-fueled disasters multiply.

It is a job made exponentially more complicated by last week’s election in the United States.

Donald Trump’s return to the White House virtually ensures that the U.S. will pull out of the Paris climate accord and halt efforts to reduce planet-warming emissions. On Monday, Trump announced that he would appoint Lee Zeldin as the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, empowering the former congressman to roll back scores of regulations and dismantle landmark climate regulations.

“Time is not on our side,” António Guterres, the U.N. Secretary General, said on Tuesday. “This is almost certain to be the hottest year on record, and a master class in climate destruction.”

The U.S. delegation, led by President Biden’s international climate adviser, John Podesta, tried to put on a brave face at the event, known as COP29.

“Last week’s election outcome in the United States is obviously disappointing,” Podesta said at the opening of the U.S. pavilion, which is housed inside a converted soccer stadium devoid of any natural light.

Nevertheless, Podesta said, “The United States delegation is here to work. We have a good story to tell here at COP. We’re looking forward to strong outcomes next week.”