Date: 18 November 2024
Time: 18.30 - 20.00 AZT
Location: Special Event Room 2 (Mugham) Baku, Azerbaijan
This is a high level ministerial event of the UN Azerbaijan-Pavilion of the UNFCCC COP29.
Organizer: UNEP
Description: 2023 saw the warmest year on record with many countries experiencing extreme temperatures. Extreme heat amplifies inequality, inflames food insecurity, and pushes people further into poverty. As said by the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, we must respond by massively increasing access to low-carbon cooling. The untapped urgency and opportunity of cooling led the COP28 Presidency to launch the Global Cooling Pledge together with over 70 countries and 60 non-state actors. The Pledge marks the world’s first collective effort to reduce cooling related emissions across all sectors by at least 68% globally by 2050, consistent with limiting global average temperature rise to 1.5°C and in line with reaching global net-zero emissions targets, while significantly increasing access to sustainable cooling by 2030 for the vulnerable populations. Delivering on the Pledge could cut emissions by around 78 billion tons by 2050 while protecting billions of people from the impacts of extreme heat. Central to the Global Cooling Pledge is the commitment by countries to undertake an annual review and report back on progress at a dedicated high-level meeting at the UN Climate Change Conference annually through 2030. This Ministerial roundtable will serve as a launchpad for action on cooling and will provide an opportunity to share the collective progress on the implementation of the Global Cooling Pledge, including on mainstreaming cooling in the next round of Nationally Determined Contributions. The roundtable will also allow Signatories to share views on how they can together contribute to the delivery of the UN Secretary-General’s Call to Action on Extreme Heat. It will also announce the incoming chair of the GCP Contact Group and propose the establishment of an Intergovernmental Committee on Cooling (IGCC) for Pledge Signatories. Objectives:
1. Adoption of the Annual Report on Review of Progress
2. Confirmation of Incoming Chair of Global Cooling Pledge Contact Group
3. Launch of key actions, including on integrating cooling in NDCs
4. Introduction of a new Governance for Pledge Signatories
5. Showcase of whole of government approaches to implementation of the Pledge
