12 JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2025 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL An Intern’s Perspective 100 Years Ago “In reviewing specific impressions, I would like to begin on the positive side. The most remarkable attribute of the US embassy at which I worked was the high calibre of persons filling a number of prominent positions. By the internship’s end, I felt special admiration for the thoughtfulness, political aplomb, and integrity of the American ambassador. Although I often heard FSOs discuss other US chiefs-of-mission as counter-examples, I can only conclude that an organization which permits such a man to rise through its ranks to the top must be doing something right! Several other officers with whom I came in contact, all proceeding up their career ladders quickly, were also extraordinarily capable and personally attractive. Each, I know, has made strongly favorable impressions on citizens of the host country. A notable characteristic of some of these US officials (the observation applies especially to the deputy chief of mission) was an effervescent interest in other people. All in all, the efforts of this group of exemplary officers are a credit to their profession and country. As an outside observer and a possible Foreign Service candidate, I was impressed.” —Andrew Spindler, excerpted from his article, “A Summer’s Intern,” in the January 1975 FSJ. needed, has exposed deep fractures in global climate diplomacy and highlighted the challenges of addressing the climate crisis amid shifting geopolitical priorities. The agreement, described by COP29 President Mukhtar Babayev as the “Baku Breakthrough,” was finalized after tense negotiations and accusations of mismanagement. While the agreement avoided an impasse, it was immediately criticized by delegates from developing nations as insufficient. India’s climate envoy, Chandni Raina, called the deal “a paltry sum,” and representatives from countries including the Marshall Islands and Panama accused wealthier nations of prioritizing political convenience over global needs. The negotiations were overshadowed by geopolitical turmoil, including the election of Donald J. Trump, who is expected to once again withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement and scale back U.S. climate commitments. Trump’s rhetoric and anticipated policy positions loomed over the conference, weakening the U.S. delegation’s leadership role and adding uncertainty about future global climate cooperation. U.S. officials sought to reassure partners that market forces and existing policies would sustain renewable energy progress domestically, but doubts remain. Adding to the tension, the war in Ukraine and rising conflict in the Middle East have strained global finances, limiting the willingness of wealthy nations to increase climate funding. Critics pointed to this financial retrenchment as evidence of the declining prioritization of climate change amid growing isolationist politics and economic challenges. The conference also highlighted the intersection of climate change and forced displacement, as detailed in a report by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN Refugee Agency, released during COP29. The report, “No Escape: On the Frontlines of Climate Change, Conflict and Forced Displacement,” revealed that three-quarters of the world’s 120 million forcibly displaced people live in countries heavily impacted by climate change. Already vulnerable due to conflict and insecurity, these communities face escalating risks from climate hazards such as flooding, cyclones, and extreme heat. Despite their dire need, fragile states hosting displaced populations receive only $2 per person annually in adaptation funding—compared to $161 per person in non-fragile states. UNHCR has called for increased climate financing to reach displaced populations and host communities, urging their inclusion in global climate policies and funding mechanisms. Despite the contentious atmosphere, COP29 made progress on important technical issues, including finalizing mechanisms for carbon markets under the Paris Agreement. These mechanisms aim to support least-developed countries while incorporating safeguards for environmental and human rights protections. Debates over the transition away from fossil fuels remained divisive, however, with Saudi Arabia resisting language affirming the need to phase out fossil fuels. Negotiating blocs representing leastdeveloped nations and small island states walked out of COP talks at one point, delaying the deal’s conclusion by hours. Many delegations left the summit frustrated, with Sierra Leone’s Environment Minister Jiwoh Abdulai criticizing the influence of a few wealthy nations over the process. Fractures exposed at COP29, coupled with growing skepticism about multilateral climate action, foreshadow the difficult road ahead. As climate envoy Tina Stege of the Marshall Islands warned, “Playing games with the lives of the world’s most vulnerable people must end.”
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