What's on the agenda at COP29?
COP29 will see delegates from over 197 countries head to Baku, Azerbaijan from 11 – 22 November to discuss climate issues and work on ways to address climate change. In this article, we’ll take a look at what’s on the agenda for COP29 and highlight anything you need to know about the UN’s annual climate conference.
What is COP?
First, here’s a quick reminder of what COP is.
Short for the Conference of the Parties, COP climate conferences have been held almost every year since 1995 when COP1 brought together the 197 member countries of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Berlin.
Back then, delegates discussed how global temperatures could be limited. This topic has remained at the core of COP conferences alongside reducing emissions, supporting developing countries that are vulnerable to the effects of climate change, and creating funds for rescuing and rebuilding following extreme weather events.
The Conference of the Parties isn’t just about the delegates. COP is a significant annual moment for those interested in climate action to raise their voice in demonstration and protest about how world leaders and major companies need to do more and consider all people and communities.
What’s on the agenda for COP29?
The theme of COP29 is ‘In solidarity for a greener world’ but what can we expect from the agenda?
The Presidential Action Agenda outlined by the President-Designate (Mukhtar Babayev, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources) gives us a good idea so let’s take a look at some of the key points.
The finance COP
COP29 has been called the ‘finance COP’. Representatives from many global finance companies will be in attendance to support the urgent discussions around financial support for those affected by climate change.
The Action Agenda seeks to create the Climate Finance Action Fund (CFAF) to fund ‘mitigation, adaptation, and research and development’, as well as grants to support developing countries facing the consequences of natural disasters.
This fund would sit alongside The Baku Initiative for Climate Finance, Investment and Trade (BICFIT) to promote investment in green technologies.
Energy and ecology
Energy storage and gridsare in the spotlight as COP29 seeks a commitment to increase global energy storage capacity to 1,500 gigawatts by 2030.
Energy grids will need to expand and be refurbished to see this achieved, so we expect to see further conversation around the promises made at COP28 to triple global renewable capacity by 2030.
Hydrogen as an energy source is up for debate too as delegates will explore the potential of a global market for hydrogen and just what it offers as a clean energy option.
Nature and Biodiversity are the headliners of the final day of COP29. There’s a particular focus during COP29 on water basins and related ecosystems, with the hosts due to launch the Baku Dialogue on Water for Climate Action which aims to strengthen international co-operation when it comes to keeping all waters clean.
Conflict and climate change
It’s a complicated relationship with many layers, but evidence suggests climate change is both a cause of and is exacerbated by conflict. The COP Truce Appeal calls for a global truce during COP29 to showcase the link between conflict and climate change, emphasising the need for peace to reduce our impact on the environment and work together towards addressing climate issues.
Architecture, agriculture and infrastructure
We’re already living alongside the effects of climate change so we must ensure our towns and cities can withstand this. At COP29, we’ll see conversations around urban climate efforts with the Multisectoral Actions Pathways (MAP) for Resilient and Healthy Cities.
Agricultural practices have become a feature of climate debate in recent years and COP is no exception.
An intent to reduce methane reduction from organic waste will feature at COP29, as well as an initiative to create coalitions and networks between farmers to promote best practices and empower communities.
COP29 also aims to galvanise Green Digital Action, accelerating climate-positive digitalisation and improving accessibility to these technologies whilst reducing emissions from digital infrastructure.
A few other things to know about COP29
As always, this year’s COP isn’t without its controversies. Although actions such as the COP Truce Appeal seem admirable on the surface, this focus on Azerbaijan as a global peacemaker is controversial given their recent war with Armenia and the country’s record on human rights.
Their petrostate status, as with last year’s host Dubai, is something of a contrast with the clean, green energy conversations due to happen too.
The upcoming US Presidential Election could have a major sway on discussions too, as Donald Trump has declared his intention to withdraw from The Paris Agreement, a past COP initiative, if he wins.
Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev also came under fire when his initial committee for COP29 comprised 28 men and no women. Following backlash, he added 12 women.
So, was COP29 a success?
Find out what decisions were made at COP29 in our latest article.
