BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 11. As part of COP29 in Baku, Trend News Agency proudly presents COP for Hope, a special project offering an unparalleled platform to hear from world leaders and trailblazers in politics, economics, science, and ecology, all united by a shared commitment to addressing today’s pressing climate challenges.
In an exclusive interview with Trend News Agency, João Carlos Soares, Director General of Environment at the Secretary of State for the Environment, Ministry of Coordinating for Economic Affairs of Timor-Leste, shared his country’s priorities and expectations as part of COP29.
According to Soares, Timor-Leste is represented by a delegation of 23 members, ranging from ministers to negotiators, as the nation continues to push for stronger global climate action and financial support.
"First of all, I want to highlight that we are here with a delegation of around 23 delegates, including heads of delegations, alternates, and negotiators," Soares explained. "We started from COP8, and since then, the delegation has been evolving. From the government side, we have representatives from various sectors, including foreign affairs, tourism, environment, agriculture, fisheries, and transport".
As the high-level session of COP29 opened, Soares emphasized the importance of Timor-Leste's active participation in key climate negotiations. "Today is the opening of the high-level session, and yesterday we had a technical coordinating meeting to discuss various issues," he said. "Timor-Leste, as a Least Developed Country (LDC) and Small Island Developing State (SIDS), is part of a specific group focused on these unique challenges".
Soares pointed out that Timor-Leste's climate negotiations are being guided by Adão Soares Barbosa, the country's special envoy and ambassador for climate change. He is also leading the Loss and Damage group, which comprises 47 countries. "One of our key focuses at COP29 is the issue of finance, particularly in relation to loss and damage," Soares explained. "Timor-Leste is committed to pushing for the mobilization of $200 billion for loss and damage, an ambitious goal, but one we believe is essential for addressing the needs of the most vulnerable nations".
He elaborated on Timor-Leste's broader position in the negotiations. "We are not a developed country, nor do we have huge ambitions, but we are committed to doing our part," Soares said. "Based on our Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Adaptation Plans, and communications, we report regularly on climate issues like sea-level rise and carbon development. Our goal here at COP29 is to negotiate flexibly, taking into account the unique circumstances of each country, and to secure commitments from developed countries and international financial institutions to support our adaptation and mitigation efforts".
With a particular emphasis on climate finance, Soares outlined Timor-Leste's engagement with various funding mechanisms. "We are part of several international funding platforms such as the Green Climate Fund, the Global Environment Facility, the Adaptation Fund, and bilateral and multilateral funds. We also welcome the recent establishment of the Loss and Damage fund. These are critical resources for countries like Timor-Leste, which rely heavily on external financial support to address the impacts of climate change".
Soares underscored the importance of securing financial resources for adaptation, mitigation, technology transfer, and capacity building. "Our position is clear: we need the international community to honor their commitments and provide the necessary resources for adaptation, mitigation, and technological support. This is not just about financial aid; it is about building the capacity of countries like Timor-Leste to address climate change effectively."
"Timor-Leste is a small island nation with low emissions, but we are facing significant challenges. This COP is crucial for us because we do not have the financial means to rely solely on our state budget," he said. "We need the international community to stand with us, to ensure that our adaptation and mitigation efforts are supported, and that the necessary technology and capacity-building are in place".
As COP29 progresses, Timor-Leste’s commitment to climate action and its call for enhanced financial support from the global community remains a priority, with hopes that the discussions in Baku will lead to meaningful outcomes for vulnerable nations. "We are here to represent our people, and we will continue to advocate for the resources and commitments necessary to protect our country and the planet," Soares concluded.