The climate emergency is a direct consequence of carbon-heavy land-use and agriculture, transport, buildings and industrial processes and polluting energy sources. Without profound changes to these sectors and a drastic cut to carbon footprints, there is little hope of protecting the planet from the devastating effects of a warmer world.
This live feed will keep you up-to-date with all the latest news from the United Nations Climate Change Conference, known as the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan.
6 hours ago
COP29 day two ends with speeches, pledges and good news on methane
UN Climate Change /Kiara Worth
Day two of COP29 saw lots of speeches from world leaders, almost all of whom called for urgent climate action and highlighted the need for adequate climate finance. The UNFCCC head, Simon Stiell said that the climate crisis “is fast becoming an economy-killer” with its impacts “carving up to 5 per cent off GDP in many countries."
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced an emissions reduction target of 81 per cent by 2035 from 1990 levels, as part of the country's updated NDC, or climate plan.
US climate envoy John Podesta the country's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will fine oil and gas companies for methane leaks. Above a certain level, methane emissions will be levied at $900 per metric tonne, going up to $1,500 by 2026. With the UNEP-led IMEO set to publish it's Eye on Methane Report 2024 later this week, it is hoped that the announcement will result in more action on reducing methane emissions, responsible for a third of the planet's current warming.
Sweden pledged pledged US$18.4 million to the loss and damage fund, taking the total financial commitments to the fund so far this year to less than US$50 million. About $700 million was announced for the fund at COP28 last year, far short of the US$100 billion developing countries argue they need every year,
UN Climate Change also revealed that the provisional number of visitors to COP29 is 66,778, down from the 83,884 who were present at COP28 in Dubai, although still the second largest COP in history. Azerbaijan's land borders have been closed since March 2020.
8 hours ago
UNEP FI to showcase role of finance in climate action
Pexels/Mikhail Nilov
At COP29, UNEP's Finance Initative will mobilise its extensive network of more than 500 banks, insurers, and investors to emphasize the role of finance in climate action. A range of discussions and events will showcase a number of initiatives and commitments from financial institutions.
The focus will be on accelerating the implementation of the Paris Agreement, aligning financial portfolios with net-zero targets, and promoting innovative financial instruments for climate resilience. UNEP FI aims to enhance the finance sector’s contribution to global climate goals, supporting the transition to a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive economy.
WHO report: five climate actions could save two million lives a year
Derrick Milimo
A new report from the World Health Organisation (WHO) released for COP29 has highlighted the climate actions that could save two million lives every year. The most impactful action would be phasing out hundreds of billions of dollars of fossil fuel subsidies and taxing fossil fuels, which the report claims would save 1.2 million lives a year.
The other actions are installing heatwave warning systems; phasing out fossil fuel use in primary healthcare facilities and homes; and protecting clean water and sanitation from climate damage.
These actions would not only save lives but would bring in US$4 in benefits for each dollar invested. “The climate crisis is a health crisis, which makes prioritising health and well-being in climate action not only a moral and legal imperative, but a strategic opportunity to unlock transformative health benefits for a more just and equitable future,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.
9 hours ago
Focus on climate finance as world leaders speeches continue
COP29
World leaders speeches continue in Baku, with the focus very much on funding the response to the climate crisis, particularly by those most affected by it.
The president of the Maldives - long threatened by the catastrophic effects of the climate crisis – Mohamed Muizzu said: “The new climate finance goal must reflect the true scale of the climate crisis,” he said. “The need is in trillions [of dollars], not billions.”
For us the environment and ocean are more than resources, they are our cultural identity,” Muizzu said. “Their protection remains our sacred duty.” He added: “As we look around the globe we see funds flowing freely to wage war,” but not to fund climate finance.
This was echoed by the president of Marshall Islands, Hilda Heine, who pointed out the “fallacy that their short-term interests are worth the destruction on their doorstep and they will escape without blame.”
The Marshall Islands, like the Maldives, faces an existential threat from rising sea levels as a result of human-induced climate change.
It is hoped that COP29 will result in a new collective and quantified goal on climate finance which would see countries agree ona new financial target to support developing countries in their climate actions post-2025. This finance would - among other things - help countries pay for a green energy transition.
11 hours ago
UNFCCC head: Failure to tackle climate crisis will result in inflation on steroids
UN Climate Change/Kamran Guliyev
Simon Stiell, the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has warned world leaders that a failure to tackle the climate crisis will result in "inflation on steroids."
Speaking at the World Leaders Summit, he said: “The climate crisis is a cost-of-living crisis, because climate disasters are driving up costs for households and businesses,” he said, emphasising that the benefits of climate finance were global in scale.
“Let’s learn the lessons from the pandemic when supply chains were smashed,” Stiell said. “Climate finance is global inflation insurance.”
He also highlighted the fact that climate action is not just necessary for the planet, but for stronger economies and human health.
“Cheap, clean energy can be the bedrock of your economies. It means more jobs, more growth, less pollution choking cities, healthier citizens and stronger businesses.”
12 hours ago
On now: Report highlights how nitrous oxide is harming ozone and climate
The Global Nitrous Oxide Assessment launching today shines a spotlight on a critical but often overlooked climate threat. Nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas and the top ozone-depleting substance. Nitrous oxide is mostly emitted from synthetic fertilisers and manure in agriculture.
Rising faster than expected, its emissions threaten both our climate and ozone layer. The report highlights actionable steps to cut emissions by more than 40 per cent, with deeper reductions achievable through transformations in food systems and society. As part of the essential nitrogen cycle, nitrous oxide plays a crucial role in our global food system but demands urgent attention for sustainable solutions.
New UNHCR Report highlights link between climate change, conflict and displacement
Ab Rashid/UNDP Climate
People forced to flee war, violence and persecution are increasingly finding themselves on the front line of the global climate crisis, a new report warns, exposing them to a lethal combination of threats but without the funding and support to adapt.
The report, released today by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, in collaboration with 13 expert organisations, research institutions and refugee-led groups, shows how climate shocks are interacting with conflict, pushing those who are already in danger into even more dire situations.
According to the report – No Escape: On the Frontlines of Climate Change, Conflict and Forced Displacement – by 2040 the number of countries facing extreme climate-related hazards is expected to rise from 3 to 65, the vast majority of which host displaced people. Similarly, most refugee settlements and camps are projected to experience twice as many days of dangerous heat by 2050.
What are UNEP’s ‘Gap’ Reports and why are they important?
The next two weeks will see two UNEP reports referenced a lot, both in media reports and in negotiations. Theseregular climate-related assessments are the Adaptation Gap Report and the Emissions Gap Report, while UNEP partners with other groups on a third, theProduction Gap Report. They analyse the state of the climate and provide policymakers with a roadmap for action, often being cited by heads of state and negotiators at COPs.
UN Secretary-General: World must pay up or humanity will pay the price
Pexels/Azam Khan Ronnie
UN secretary general António Guterres gave a strong speech at the World Leaders Summit today, highlighting the costs of climate inaction and emphasising that the climate crisis is here now.
“Families running for their lives before the next hurricane strikes; Workers and pilgrims collapsing in insufferable heat; Floods tearing through communities, and tearing down infrastructure; Children going to bed hungry as droughts ravage crops. All these disasters, and more, are being supercharged by human-made climate change,” he said.
“But there is every reason to hope,” Guterres said. “It’s time to deliver and humanity is behind you.”
Guterres listed three priorities. First “emergency” emissions reductions, with the G20 countries leading. Second, protecting people from the ravages of the climate crisis, especially the most vulnerable, which will require hundreds of billions of dollars. Third, delivering the overall finance goal, which should be at least US$1tn a year and is the key task at COP29.
“Developing countries eager to act are facing many obstacles: scant public finance; raging cost of capital; crushing climate disasters; and debt servicing that soaks up funds,” he said. “Developing countries must not leave Baku empty-handed. A deal is a must.”
It’s the second day of COP29 with a range of events, discussions and panels on across Baku Stadium. Today is the first day of the World Leaders Climate Action Summit, which features heads of state and government. Speakers today include UK leader Keir Starmer and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey. However leaders such as Joe Biden, Xi Jinping and the EU's Ursula von der Leyen.
Events include a high-level discussion on climate finance; a ministerial dialogue on scaling up investment for tripling renewables and doubling energy efficiency; the launch of a UNHCR report on the link between climate change, conflict and displacement; an event on delivering climate action in agriculture and food systems; and the “operationalization” of the Loss and Damage Fund that was agreed upon at least year’s COP28 in Dubai.
