The 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) commenced on November 11, 2024, in Baku, Azerbaijan, marking a pivotal moment in global climate action. The opening day set the stage for almost two weeks of intensive negotiations and discussions aimed at addressing the escalating climate crisis.
Opening Ceremony Highlights
The conference began with an opening ceremony featuring speeches from key figures, including UN Secretary-General António Guterres and COP29 President Mukhtar Babayev. They emphasised the urgency of accelerating climate action and the necessity for collaborative efforts to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. The speakers called for enhanced ambition and enabling action, aligning with the conference’s overarching goals.
COP29 Key Themes and Objectives
COP29 is being referred to as the “Finance COP,” with a significant focus on climate finance. Discussions are centred on establishing a New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) to mobilise financial resources for developing countries, addressing both mitigation and adaptation needs. This initiative aims to bridge the existing finance gap and support vulnerable nations in their climate resilience efforts.
Another critical agenda item is the finalisation of rules under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, which pertains to international carbon markets. Establishing transparent and robust mechanisms for carbon trading is seen as essential for cost-effective emission reductions and fostering sustainable development.
Side Events and Stakeholder Engagement
The opening day also featured various side events and forums, providing platforms for stakeholders from civil society, indigenous communities, and the private sector to share insights and best practices. These sessions highlighted innovative solutions and collaborative approaches to tackling climate challenges, emphasising the importance of inclusive participation in the climate dialogue.
As COP29 progresses, the international community anticipates concrete outcomes that will accelerate the transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient future. The success of the conference hinges on the collective commitment of all parties to implement ambitious climate actions and provide the necessary support to those most affected by climate change.
We use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. We do this to improve browsing experience and to show (non-) personalized ads. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional cookies
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.