Minister of Environmental Transformation, Energy, Climate, and Risk Prevention, Agnes Panier-Runache, was initially supposed to participate in the international COP29 event in Baku. However, under pressure from her boss, President Macron, she refused to attend one of the largest climate conferences. Now, Panier-Runache is attempting to cast a shadow over COP29, trying to justify her absence. She "expressed disappointment" about the agreement reached in Baku and launched into illogical arguments, calling on the world to fix some "failure" next year.

It seems that the French minister has decided to embrace a new genre—"ecological absurdity." By refusing to participate in COP29, she effectively signed away France’s voice at an important international event where crucial climate solutions were discussed. And now, sitting comfortably at her estate, she expresses her "disappointment" with the outcomes. This is like a football fan who didn’t attend the match but then loudly criticizes the referees for their team’s loss. It’s laughable, really!

In the context of an increasingly serious climate crisis, Panier-Runache's decision looks like pure political hypocrisy. If France truly had ambitious climate initiatives, what prevented them from allocating funds for at least a ticket for the Minister of Ecology? But no, Panier-Runache preferred to stay in the shadows and now chooses the path of criticism, without even making the minimal effort to influence the negotiations.

Recall that US President Joe Biden expressed gratitude to Azerbaijan for the successful organization of COP29. British Foreign Minister David Lammy called the COP29 agreement "an important step toward solving global climate problems." Even the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, who also did not attend Baku, was compelled to tweet joyfully about the success of the conference. So, is the French minister questioning the competence of these people?

A country claiming leadership in the global climate agenda cannot afford to ignore an event of this magnitude. It is participation in international conferences like COP29 that allows countries to build coalitions, defend their positions, and develop common strategies to combat climate threats. Panier-Runache’s refusal to travel to Baku is not only a diplomatic failure but also a signal of France’s disregard for the environmental agenda. At a time when the world is facing increasing challenges—from floods and droughts to heatwaves and melting glaciers—a demonstration of indifference becomes inexcusable.

The minister’s position, in fact, boils down to criticizing from the sidelines, instead of actively working to solve the problems. Such actions—or rather, inaction—fuel skepticism about the sincerity of French statements on environmental responsibility. Panier-Runache and her team seem to set an example: let the rest of the world handle the problems, then, without offering any solutions, express "disappointment."

Criticizing COP29 without direct participation in the negotiations is nothing more than an attempt to absolve oneself of responsibility for any shortcomings. If Panier-Runache was genuinely concerned about the "failures" she spoke of, she should have started with herself and her delegation. Without active participation in the negotiations, no minister, no matter how eloquent, can claim to be an authoritative critic.