cop29 conference, baku
Get the latest updates from COP29. Follow the activities and announcements live.
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The day started with a welcome to the 72,000 delegates from around the world from Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
Don't Burn the World!: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on the world to phase out fossil fuels. In a supportive statement to CSOs and youth movements, the UN boss reminded the world that young people are calling for change and they must be heard.
Mr Guterres also emphasized the need for Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) that are aligned with the push to reduce emissions to 1.5C.
Abstract numbers or ambition?: Against this backdrop, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a new climate ambition to cut emissions by up to 81% by 2035 as recommended by the UK’s Climate Change Committee (CCC).
A microclimate for the UK: Power Shift Africa reacted to the announcement, saying:
‘‘This is a significant moment. The announcement shows the UK is keen to build on the momentum created over the last few years and is determined to strengthen its climate leadership."
PSA Director Mohamed Adow added: “However, Starmer will not be able to create a microclimate over Britain by simply announcing UK emissions reductions. Climate change is an international problem demanding international solutions."
Finance discussions in motion: This COP is about money flows. The much-anticipated negotiations on the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance kicked off, with parties upbeat about the most critical subject of the climate talks.
The G-77/CHINA stressed that the finance should be from developed to developing countries and that new, additional, adequate, and affordable finance must also include mitigation, adaptation and loss and damage.
Impasse on L&D: The US has opposed the inclusion of loss and damage.
Additional info: Sweden pledged $17 billion to the Loss and Damage fund. Notably, the fund needs $400-$500 billion annually but so far only $50 million has been committed in 2024.
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COP29 is underway. Here's a brief explainer on Day One.
First, we start with a brief shoutout to African countries for stepping up in a big way and taking the mantle to move climate action discussions forward as leaders from the Global North chose to stay away.
For the Global South, this COP is crucial since the negotiations on the New Collective Quantified Goal on climate finance (NCQG) will determine if these climate talks are successful or not.
Global South countries stood their ground and maintained that a bad finance deal is unacceptable. Africa and the rest of the developing world are at the forefront of the climate crisis, although they have contributed the least to climate change.
To echo how important this summit is, COP29 President Mukhtar Babayev has termed it the "moment of truth for the Paris Agreement."
"Azerbaijan can build the bridge, but you all need to walk across it. We need to start running," he said.
And run we must, as many people around the world are at risk of a full-blown climate catastrophe.
Whether it is droughts in Southern Africa, floods hitting East & Central Africa to Afghanistan & Pakistan, wildfires in Mexico & landslides in Papua New Guinea, our communities are suffering. This edition of climate negotiations, like all others before it, is about the people.
The opening plenary had to be paused and delayed due to disagreements between developing and developed countries. How's that for a start? Delegates could not agree on the agenda under the UAE dialogue on the implementation of global stocktake outcomes.
A disappointing decision was reached on carbon credits, with countries giving the thumbs up to these "pollution permits"