My name is Rachitaa Gupta and I am speaking on behalf of ENGO DCJ.

I voluntarily declare that I have no ties with fossil fuel industries (or other emission intensive industries) and no conflict of interest. There are nearly 1,800 fossil fuel lobbyists at COP29.

Every year half my country suffers from devastating heatwaves while the other half is ravaged by floods. And the very criminals who have polluted our world, my home, are now here to pollute these talks supported by the Global North countries. And they have been doing it for nearly 30 years.

We and our communities are being destroyed by wildfires, floods, typhoon, drought, climate crisis induced destruction and devastation. And we are not the ones responsible for it. It is you rich countries and your fossil fuel buddies. Your hunger and greed have looted our lands, our water, our forests, and with it our very future.

We are here for a finance COP. And it is turning into a bankrupt COP as you developed countries continue to deny your historical responsibility. 

We demand an ambitious NCQG of 5 trillion USD per year as new, public, grants based,  and non-debt creating climate finance.

You can’t lie to us that you don’t have the money. You provide 1 trillion USD in subsidies to fossil fuel companies and 1 trillion USD to your militaries. You would rather fund war, conflict, and genocide than climate action. You want us to instead sell our lands and resources as carbon markets to continue your imperialism and colonialism.

I now call upon our governments to stand up and stand strong against the dirty tactics of the rich countries. You are here representing millions of people back home. A bad deal—one that shifts the burden to Global South countries or dilutes the Global North’s obligations—is worse than no deal at all. Don’t let global north governments derail this process and sow division. Our power lies in our solidarity.

We simply cannot afford another shameful and empty outcome. We are asking for our very right to exist. Defund genocide, fund climate justice!