As greenhouse gas emissions reach new highs and climate impacts intensify globally, Emissions Gap Report 2024: No more hot air…please! Makes clear that to avoid climate catastrophe, nations must use COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, as a launchpad to increase ambition and ensure the new Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) collectively promise to almost halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2030
From 11 to 22 November, Baku, Azerbaijan, will host the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29), the global decision-making body of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). This pivotal event will focus on establishing new finance targets, advancing adaptation measures, and strengthening the loss and damage fund. In anticipation of next year’s updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), COP29 is expected to drive greater ambition in climate commitments. This conference could mark a crucial turning point, scaling up climate finance and transforming the UAE consensus pledges into concrete actions.
With three COPs scheduled in 2024, this year presents an opportunity to advance integrated approaches for achieving the goals of the Rio Conventions. By aligning national plans—such as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs), and Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) targets—nations can foster co-benefits and enhance synergistic impacts.
Building on momentum from the World Urban Forum, UNEP will emphasize the crucial role of sub-national leadership in driving ambitious climate action.
UNEP-Affiliated Pavilion and events at COP29
The participation of UNEP at COP29 will focus on the following key areas of negotiation:
- Climate finance- New collective quantified goal on climate finance (NCQG)
- Climate technology
- Enhanced transparency framework
- Loss and damage
- Adaptation
- Mitigation
- Article 6
- Global stocktake, NDCs and ambition
UNEP also supports the COP29 Presidential Agenda, including the following initiatives:
- Methane Reduction from Organic Waste
- Multisectoral Actions Pathways (MAP) for Resilient and Healthy Cities
- Enhanced Climate Action in Tourism
- Water for Climate Action
UNEP will also host or contribute to a range of ministerial meetings and high-level roundtables, including:
- Global Cooling Pledge Ministerial
- Global Methane Pledge Ministerial
- Caspian Sea Ministerial
- International Methane Emissions Observatory Ministerial
- High-Level Roundtable on Green Construction, Energy Efficiency in Buildings and Climate Resilience in Cities
- High-Level Roundtable on Nature, Health, Resilience and Urban Agriculture in Cities
- High-Level Event - Celebrating Water’s Lifeline for Climate, Nature, and People – Launch of COP29 Presidency Baku Dialogue on Water