COP climate talks aren't working and need an overhaul, climate leaders say in letter

A group of former leaders and climate experts say the annual UN COP climate talks are no longer fit for purpose and need to be reformed, publishing a critical open letter mid-way through what has so far been a fractious summit.

Nearly 200 countries are gathered in Baku, Azerbaijan, with a primary goal of agreeing on a new target for how much money needs to be provided to help developing countries adapt to climate change and recover from destructive weather.

So far, those talks have made little progress.

Delegates struggled for hours on the opening day to agree on an agenda and the mood has been soured by doubts about the future role of the United States under a Donald Trump presidency, diplomatic spats involving the host country and the withdrawal of the Argentinian delegation.

Friday's letter was signed by more than 20 experts, including former UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon, former Irish president Mary Robinson and the former head of the UN climate body that runs the annual COP summits, Christiana Figueres. The letter said the COP process had achieved much, but now needs an overhaul.

"It is now clear that the COP is no longer fit for purpose. Its current structure simply cannot deliver the change at exponential speed and scale, which is essential to ensure a safe climate landing for humanity," the letter said.

"This is what compels our call for a fundamental overhaul of the COP. We need a shift from negotiation to implementation, enabling the COP to deliver on agreed commitments and ensure the urgent energy transition and phaseout of fossil energy."

Figueres later said some of the ideas in the letter had been misinterpreted.

"The COP process is an essential and irreplaceable vehicle for supporting the multilateral, multisectoral, systemic change we urgently need. Now more than ever," she said in a post on LinkedIn.

Other leaders defended the COP process as essential after the publication of the letter. 

Michai Robertson, lead negotiator for the Alliance of Small Island States, said COP was the only platform where their countries were able to participate in climate negotiations and have a voice.

Separately, Cat Abreu, director of International Climate Politics Hub, said the COP process, while "imperfect," is the best option available.

"It's clear that change is possible in this process, and there is room for constructive feedback to offer ideas for that change. And I think that that was what was intended by this letter," she told reporters.

The letter laid out several recommendations for how to refocus the talks and ensure that future meetings are actually tackling the existential threat of climate change.