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Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL)

Skyline of Baku, Azerbaijan

What is COP? It's short for the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and is the major UN climate conference. The 29th annual summit, known as COP29, was held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 11-24 November 2024.

At the summit, delegates including heads of state, climate experts and negotiators will come together to agree coordinated action to tackle climate change – key negotiations will focus on building momentum on the progress made at COP28. 

As well as the negotiations, there will also be space for countries, international organisations and other delegates to showcase climate action, highlight diverse climate change issues and share knowledge. 

In addition to the main COP summit, this year will also see COP16, the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD) held in Colombia in October; and COP16, the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in December. 

The Azerbaijani COP Presidency 

Mukhtar Babayev, Azerbaijan’s minister for ecology and natural resources and COP29 President, set out his goals to “build bridges between the diverging north and south to keep 1.5°C in reach” as the incoming President in an op-ed for the Guardian.

Babayev is an oil industry veteran and sceptics have already critiqued Azerbaijan’s potential conflict of interest given the country relied on oil and gas for more than 92.5% of its export revenue last year. Azerbaijan also reportedly has plans to expand its fossil fuel industry. However Babayev set out the “intention of Azerbaijan to turn the corner on our economy to green directions.” This has been signalled by Azerbaijan committing to joining the Global Methane Pledge, investing in solar through a major project with BP and leveraging its offshore wind capacity.    

In response to the uncertainty created by the many elections anticipated in 2024, Babayev has warned that the governments that assume power after elections will be held to the same climate obligations as their predecessors.  

What will be discussed at COP29? 

Topics which seem likely to feature prominently at COP29 include: 

  • Climate finance - the new finance goal, known as the new collective quantified goal (NCQG), is due to be adopted at COP29, building on the $100 billion per year committed in 2009 and extended to 2025
  • Updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) – climate action plans to cut emissions and adapt to climate impacts. The NDCs are due to be updated between November 2024 and February 2025
  • Aligning biodiversity and climate 
  • Agreeing the specifics of the Global Goal on Adaptation.

About COP - the UN's climate change conference

 

Events


Read more at: Sustainable Innovation Forum 2024 – 13-14 November 2024, COP29, Baku, Azerbaijan
Sustainable Innovation Forum 2024

Sustainable Innovation Forum 2024 – 13-14 November 2024, COP29, Baku, Azerbaijan

Wednesday, 13 November, 2024 - 09:00 to Thursday, 14 November, 2024 - 19:00

CISL is pleased to partner with Climate Action for the Sustainable Innovation Forum 2024, returning for its 16th annual edition as an Affiliated COP29 Event on 13-14 November.


Read more at: Innovation Ecosystems for Climate Action: Digital Technologies, Industrial Solutions, and Governance - 13 November 2024, COP29, Baku, Azerbaijan

Innovation Ecosystems for Climate Action: Digital Technologies, Industrial Solutions, and Governance - 13 November 2024, COP29, Baku, Azerbaijan

Wednesday, 13 November, 2024 - 18:30 to 20:00

This event examines the role of innovation ecosystems encompassing bridging organisations, universities, startups, and big business in driving climate action. It will explore emerging tech like AI and its risks and opportunities, and broader industrial solutions and policies needed to decarbonise.


Read more at: Enhancing the role of the CEE region in the EU Green Agenda - 13 November 2024, COP29, Baku, Azerbaijan

Enhancing the role of the CEE region in the EU Green Agenda - 13 November 2024, COP29, Baku, Azerbaijan

Wednesday, 13 November, 2024 - 11:00 to 12:30

Tsvetelina Kuzmanova, Senior Programme Manager, CISL Europe, will be speaking on this panel. The event will address the challenges and opportunities for sustainable development of Central and Eastern Europe in the fields of finance, decarbonisation, ESG, the future of clean tech, and energy.


Read more at: Not Just Carbon: Why the world Needs Climate Action on Contrails - 13 November 2024, COP29, Baku, Azerbaijan
Aeroplane vapour trail

Not Just Carbon: Why the world Needs Climate Action on Contrails - 13 November 2024, COP29, Baku, Azerbaijan

Wednesday, 13 November, 2024 - 10:00 to 11:00

An event on Contrails co-hosted by the University of Cambridge's Aviation Impact Accelerator and Reviate, a Breakthrough Energy Initiative.


Read more at: From NBSAPs to NDCs: bringing climate & nature together to raise national ambition - 14 November, COP29, Baku, Azerbaijan

From NBSAPs to NDCs: bringing climate & nature together to raise national ambition - 14 November, COP29, Baku, Azerbaijan

Thursday, 14 November, 2024 - 14:00 to 15:00

This session will explore how nature and climate targets can be aligned through government and business collaboration and action.


Read more at: Derisking emerging markets' transition finance at scale (closed door roundtable) - 15 November 2024, COP29, Baku, Azerbaijan

Derisking emerging markets' transition finance at scale (closed door roundtable) - 15 November 2024, COP29, Baku, Azerbaijan

Friday, 15 November, 2024 - 16:30 to 18:00

Hosted by Jessica Attard, Deputy Director of CISL’s Centre for Sustainable Finance.


Read more at: The move to clean energy systems: accelerating electrification and tripling renewables through business policy advocacy - 15 November 2024, COP29, Baku, Azerbaijan

The move to clean energy systems: accelerating electrification and tripling renewables through business policy advocacy - 15 November 2024, COP29, Baku, Azerbaijan

Friday, 15 November, 2024 - 18:00 to 20:00

CISL's Corporate Leaders Network for climate action (CLN) and Corporate Leaders Groups are hosting a catered networking reception followed by a panel event and key interventions focused on energy policy advocacy.


Read more at: Marrakech Partnership Implementation Lab: Enhance Ambition for energy policy - 15 November 2024, COP29, Baku, Azerbaijan

Marrakech Partnership Implementation Lab: Enhance Ambition for energy policy - 15 November 2024, COP29, Baku, Azerbaijan

Friday, 15 November, 2024 - 16:30 to 18:00

This high-level Implementation Lab organised as part of the Marrakech Partnership COP29 programme will highlight the opportunity of the new NDCs as vehicles for setting ambitious targets and policies to drive climate ambition through a just clean energy transition


Read more at: Business and Climate Advisory Bodies: Strengthening Global Engagement for Accelerated Climate Action - 16 November 2024, COP29, Baku, Azerbaijan

Business and Climate Advisory Bodies: Strengthening Global Engagement for Accelerated Climate Action - 16 November 2024, COP29, Baku, Azerbaijan

Saturday, 16 November, 2024 - 15:15 to 16:15

This private roundtable (proposed under Chatham House rules) will explore the critical role of business engagement with national and international climate advisory bodies in advancing effective climate policies and achieving global climate targets.


Read more at: World Climate Summit - 17 November 2024, COP29, Baku, Azerbaijan

World Climate Summit - 17 November 2024, COP29, Baku, Azerbaijan

Sunday, 17 November, 2024 - 17:00 to 18:00

The Director of UK Corporate Leaders Group, Beverley Cornaby, is speaking at the closing plenary session of the World Climate Foundation’s World Climate Summit.