40 Facts About COP29

What is COP29?

COP29, the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), is a crucial event in the global effort to combat climate change. Scheduled to take place in Baku, Azerbaijan, from November 11 to 22, 2024, this conference will bring together world leaders, scientists, and activists to discuss and negotiate strategies to address climate change.

1. Location and Dates: COP29 will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from November 11 to 22, 2024.

2. Purpose: The main goal is for nearly 200 countries to coordinate global climate action and negotiate strategies to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

History and Background of COP

The Conference of the Parties (COP) has been an annual event since 1992. It was established under the UNFCCC to bring countries together to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations and prevent dangerous interference with the climate system.

3. History of COP: The COP has been an annual event since 1992, focusing on global cooperation to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations.

4. Number of Delegates: Between 40,000 and 50,000 delegates are expected to attend COP29, including government representatives, diplomats, UN officials, journalists, climate scientists, trade union leaders, and policy experts.

Countries and Agreements

COP29 will see participation from almost every country in the world, all of which are parties to the UNFCCC and have joined the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement.

5. Countries Involved: All UN member states, as well as the State of Palestine, the Holy See, Niue, the Cook Islands, and the European Union, will participate in COP29.

6. Paris Agreement: Signed in 2015, the Paris Agreement legally requires all states to set targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions to limit global temperature increase to 2°C above pre-industrial levels.

Key Features of COP29

COP29 will feature several important components, including the second Global Stocktake, a focus on climate finance, and a dedicated transportation plan.

7. Global Stocktake: COP29 will feature the second Global Stocktake, a mid-term review of progress towards the Paris Agreement.

8. Climate Finance: COP29 is being billed as the "finance COP," focusing on scaling up climate finance to help lower-income countries transition to zero-carbon economies and adapt to climate change impacts.

9. Funding Mechanisms: The funding required for climate action must come from high-income countries historically most responsible for climate change. The funding should be in the form of grants, not loans.

10. Transportation Plan: A dedicated transportation plan has been developed to manage the influx of visitors during COP29, including measures to minimize traffic and ensure efficient transportation.

Host Country and Presidency

Azerbaijan has been selected as the host country for COP29, and the COP29 Presidency has outlined its objectives and plans for the conference.

11. Host Country’s Role: Azerbaijan considers hosting COP29 a significant honor and a sign of respect from the international community for its efforts in green energy.

12. COP29 Presidency’s Objectives: The COP29 Presidency has two main objectives: to enhance ambition by ensuring all parties commit to ambitious national plans and transparency, and to enable action by focusing on finance.

13. Enhancing Ambition: The first pillar involves ensuring all parties commit to ambitious national plans and transparency, including robust monitoring and reporting mechanisms.

14. Enabling Action: The second pillar focuses on enabling action through finance, ensuring that climate finance is accessible, affordable, and available to developing countries.

Inclusive Process and Nature-Based Solutions

COP29 aims to be an inclusive process, engaging a broad range of stakeholders and focusing on nature-based solutions to address climate change.

15. Inclusive Process: The COP29 Presidency is committed to an inclusive process, ensuring that everyone’s voices are heard and perspectives considered.

16. Nature-Based Solutions: Protecting and restoring nature can achieve up to 1/3 of emission reductions needed to limit global warming to 1.5°C.

Transitioning to Clean Energy and Centering People

Fast-tracking the transition to clean energy and centering nature, people, lives, and livelihoods are key focuses of COP29.

17. Transitioning to Clean Energy: Fast-tracking the transition to clean energy is a key focus, including slashing emissions before 2030 to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

18. Centering Nature, People, Lives & Livelihoods: COP29 aims to put nature, people, lives, and livelihoods at the heart of climate action, helping vulnerable communities adapt to the change already occurring.

Delivering on Finance and Mobilizing Inclusivity

Delivering on finance and mobilizing inclusivity are critical for the success of COP29.

19. Delivering on Finance: This involves delivering old promises and setting a new framework for climate finance, making it affordable, available, and accessible to developing countries.

20. Mobilizing Inclusivity: Ensuring that decisions and discussions are truly inclusive and implemented in collaboration with Indigenous Peoples and local communities.

Priorities and Scorecard

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) has outlined its priorities for COP29 and will be tracking specific policy actions during the negotiations.

21. TNC’s Priorities: TNC has three core priorities: accelerating the equitable phase-out of fossil fuels, empowering groups who steward nature to secure their homes, livelihoods, and futures, and inspiring commitments and investments in nature-positive projects, policies, and practices.

22. COP29 Scorecard: TNC will be tracking specific policy actions during the negotiations and grading how the world performs according to their COP29 Scorecard.

Role of the IAEA and Nuclear Energy

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will showcase nuclear solutions for climate action at COP29.

23. IAEA’s Role: The IAEA will showcase nuclear solutions for climate action in over 40 events at COP29, highlighting how nuclear energy contributes to net-zero emissions.

24. Nuclear Energy Summit: COP29 follows the first-ever Nuclear Energy Summit hosted by the IAEA and the Government of Belgium in March 2024, reaffirming leaders’ commitment to nuclear energy.

Article 6 and Loss and Damage Fund

Article 6 of the Paris Agreement and the Loss and Damage Fund are important topics at COP29.

25. Article 6 of the Paris Agreement: Article 6 could pave the way to better carbon markets, but successive COPs have failed to get it up and running.

26. Loss and Damage Fund: COP29 will focus on scaling up climate finance, including addressing the loss and damage caused by climate change.

Adaptation Strategies and Finance Gap

Prioritizing adaptation strategies and closing the adaptation finance gap are essential for COP29.

27. Adaptation Strategies: COP29 is a pivotal opportunity to prioritize adaptation and secure necessary resources, with National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) being vital tools.

28. Adaptation Finance Gap: Closing the adaptation finance gap is critical, with donor countries needing to meet their commitments and exploring innovative funding mechanisms.

Human Rights and Economic Impact

Climate change has severe impacts on human rights and the economy, which will be addressed at COP29.

29. Human Rights and Climate Change: Climate change is causing a dramatic increase in extreme temperatures, displacing people, and exacerbating natural disasters, severely impacting human rights.

30. Economic Impact: The economic impact of climate change is significant, with the cost of damages from climate-related disasters dwarfing current investments in renewable energy.

Private Sector and Carbon Markets

The involvement of the private sector and the establishment of robust carbon markets are crucial for COP29.

31. Private Sector Involvement: The private sector’s involvement is crucial for scaling up climate finance, with many climate finance schemes needing private capital behavior to be solicited quickly and systematically.

32. Carbon Markets: A well-functioning carbon market within the UNFCCC machinery is essential, especially as anti-greenwashing sentiment rises and companies back away from climate pledges.

Climate Change Impacts and Global Warming

COP29 will address the severe impacts of climate change and the urgent need to limit global warming.

33. Climate Change Impacts: Climate change is causing record-breaking wildfires, catastrophic floods, and relentless heat waves, with the first-ever Global Stocktake revealing how far the world has fallen behind its climate goals.

34. Global Warming: The world is on track for an increase of 2.6 to 3.1°C this century, far exceeding the 1.5°C target, which will entail mass displacement, harm to livelihoods, and loss of life.

Climate Funding Allocation and COP28 Outcomes

The allocation of climate funding and the outcomes of COP28 are important considerations for COP29.

35. Climate Funding Allocation: Less than 10% of climate funding is currently allocated to nature-based solutions, highlighting the need for increased investment in natural climate solutions.

36. COP28 Outcomes: The previous COP, COP28, was the largest attended climate COP in history, with the key outcome being the conclusion of the first-ever Global Stocktake.

COP29 Presidency’s Letter and Transport Management Plan

The COP29 Presidency has outlined its priorities, and a transport management plan has been developed for the conference.

37. COP29 Presidency’s Letter: COP29 President-Designate Mukhtar Babayev has sent his first official letter to the conference’s parties and constituencies, outlining priorities for action and remaining hurdles.

38. Transport Management Plan: A briefing was held to inform the public about the Transport Management Plan for COP29, outlining integrated measures to minimize traffic during the conference.

Media Accreditation and General Enquiries

Information on media accreditation and general enquiries for COP29 is available for those interested in attending or covering the event.

39. Media Accreditation: For information on media accreditation, please consult the UN Climate Change’s website. Media services for the conference can be contacted through mediaservices@cop29.az.

40. General Enquiries: For general enquiries about COP29, please contact generalenquiries@cop29.az.

COP29: A Crucial Moment for Climate Action

COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, is shaping up to be a pivotal event in the fight against climate change. With nearly 200 countries coming together, the focus will be on limiting global warming to 1.5°C, scaling up climate finance, and implementing nature-based solutions. The conference will also highlight the importance of inclusive decision-making, ensuring that all voices, especially those of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, are heard.

The second Global Stocktake will provide a mid-term review of progress, while the emphasis on finance aims to help lower-income countries transition to zero-carbon economies. The role of nuclear energy, adaptation strategies, and the need for a robust carbon market will also be key topics. As the world watches, COP29 holds immense potential for transformative action, making it a critical moment for securing a sustainable future for all.